The Office of Public Affairs has initiated arrest procedures with more than 2,700 police outside the presidential palace as a precaution

South Korea's Senior Public Officials Crime Investigation Agency tried to execute an arrest warrant for President Yoon Seok-yoon on Friday, as a large crowd of Yoon's supporters gathered outside the presidential residence in central Seoul and police deployed more than 2,700 officers to deal with escalating clashes.

Yonhap news agency reported that around 7:30 a.m. Friday Korean time (about 6:30 a.m. Friday Singapore time), according to an unofficial police count, more than 600 supporters of Yin Siyue held a rally near the presidential residence, vowing to prevent Yun's detention. In order to prevent the confrontation from escalating, the police have deployed 45 mobile units, each with 60 people and more than 2,700 police officers, and 135 police mobile unit buses are on standby at the scene.

Parts of Hannan Road are currently closed to traffic.

The office previously said it would arrest Yin Xiyue within the validity of the arrest warrant. The arrest warrant is valid for seven days from the date of issuance, i.e. from December 31, 2024 to January 6, 2025.