Investigators fail to detain president after prolonged standoff

Dozens of anti-corruption agency investigators and police attempted to execute a detainment warrant against Yoon on Friday but retreated from his residence in Seoul after a tense standoff with the presidential security service that lasted more than five hours.

Protesters in South Korea are calling for President Yoon Suk Yeol to be arrested as a warrant expires at midnight on Monday.

The investigators secured the warrant to arrest Yeol over his brief declaration of martial law last month.

A local court in the capital Seoul rejected objections raised by Yoon's lawyer to the arrest warrant for the impeached president, the Yonhap News Agency reported.