South Korean investigators try to arrest President Yoon Suk-yeol

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South Korean investigators are trying to arrest President Yoon Suk-yul as part of an investigation into allegations of treason and abuse of power after his failed attempt last month to impose martial law.

The Special Corruption Investigation Bureau for Senior Officials said early Friday that it had begun executing an arrest warrant against him yon.

Television footage showed a team of officials from the office entering Yoon’s residence in central Seoul, with nearly 3,000 police officers in the area.

If arrested, Yoon would be the first sitting South Korean president to be arrested.

Yun unleashed a severe political crisis in South Korea With his failed attempt to impose martial law.

Parliament removed him last month, but this step requires the approval of the country’s Constitutional Court.

The independent anti-corruption agency is expected to question Yoon over a possible rebellion after he sent troops to the National Assembly in an attempt to prevent lawmakers from rejecting his short-lived martial law decree.

On Wednesday, Yoon sent a message to hundreds of his supporters who gathered outside his residence.

The country is in danger due to anti-state forces. “I will fight until the end to protect the nation with you,” he said in the message.

Under South Korea’s constitution, the president is immune from criminal prosecution, except when facing charges of rebellion or treason. Acting President Choi Sang-mok on Tuesday appointed two judges to the court, filling two vacant positions on the nine-member Constitutional Court.

The court’s eight justices will hold a second hearing on Friday on whether to remove Yoon from office. The court has until June to reach a ruling, although that deadline could be extended. At least six votes are needed to approve Yoon’s removal. If he is removed from office, a presidential election must be held within 60 days.

Political unrest has affected South Korea economyWhich faces higher US tariffs in Donald Trump’s second term in the White House. The government on Thursday revised down its growth forecast for this year to 1.8 percent from 2.2 percent, and is considering setting an additional budget to boost sluggish domestic consumption.

Choi on Friday ordered officials to take measures to stabilize financial markets “quickly and boldly” in case of increased volatility. He said he would continue to meet with high-ranking financial officials, including Bank of Korea Governor Ri Chang-yong, every week to monitor market conditions. On Thursday, Ri warned of increasing downside risks to the Korean economy and said the bank would be “flexible” with the pace of interest rate cuts in the face of “unprecedented” political and economic uncertainties.

South Korean stocks and the currency were among the worst performers in Asia last year, partly due to political chaos, with the Kospi stock index down nearly 10 percent and the won trading near its lowest level since 2009. The country’s stock market opened slightly higher on Monday. Friday.