South Korean investigators have given up on efforts to arrest suspended President Yoon Suk Yeol following a six-hour standoff with his security team outside his home in central Seoul.

The Corruption Investigation Office (CIO), which has been probing Yoon's brief martial law declaration, has since cited the practical impossibility of the arrest and concerns for the safety of its team as key factors in the decision.

The agency said it would now review the situation before deciding on further actions as they face supporters of Yoon, who had gathered outside the presidential residence and were left chanting slogans and singing in jubilation at the failure of the CIO to arrest the suspended president.

The arrest team numbered around 140-150 by the time it moved towards the compound at 08:00 local time according to reports, and although some members succeeded in entering the premises, they then faced resistance from Yoon’s security detail and a military unit assigned to protect Seoul.

As a result, a standoff ensued which included negotiations between investigators and Yoon’s security team but to no avail.

A court in the South Korean capital had issued the warrant earlier in the week after Yoon failed to comply with three summonses for questioning and investigators only have until January 6 to act on the current warrant, although they could apply for a new one to attempt another arrest.