As South Korea's political crisis deepens, the top aide of impeached President Yoon Suk Yeol has urged law enforcement to halt their efforts to detain him. Presidential chief of staff Chung Jin-suk made the appeal on September 14, suggesting that Yoon could instead be questioned at a "third site" or even at his residence. His statement, however, added fuel to the fire, claiming that authorities were treating the president like a member of a "South American drug cartel" in their aggressive approach, as reported by AP.

Despite Chung's appeal, Yoon's legal team, led by Yoon Kab-keun, clarified that they had not consulted with Chung and have no immediate plans to allow the president to be questioned. Yoon Suk Yeol, who has remained in his official residence since his impeachment, has been under intense scrutiny following his brief martial law declaration in early December. His actions during the declaration—deploying troops to block the National Assembly—are now being investigated for possible rebellion.

On January 3, a tense six-hour standoff unfolded between investigators and Yoon's security team, who prevented them from detaining the president. In response, the Corruption Investigation Office for High-Ranking Officials and the National Police Agency have vowed to intensify their efforts to detain him, with speculations that over a thousand officers could be mobilised for a multi-day operation. The agencies have also warned that any obstruction from the presidential bodyguards could result in arrests.

The situation is fraught with risk, as thousands of both pro- and anti-Yoon supporters continue to gather outside his residence, anxiously awaiting the next move. Yoon's legal team and supporters have raised alarm that an attempt to drag him out in handcuffs could spark widespread unrest, with fears of a civil conflict in the already divided nation.

As tensions continue to mount, the acting leader of South Korea, Deputy Prime Minister Choi Sang-mok, has expressed concerns over the potential for clashes between the authorities and the presidential security service. The country now faces the delicate task of navigating this political crisis, as Yoon's fate rests with the Constitutional Court, which is deliberating whether to remove him from office or restore his presidency.