Major Foreign Media like NYT, BBC, The Guardian
Real-time Coverage of the Standoff at Yoon's Residence
"A dangerous drama unfolded" "South Korea's political crisis has reached a dramatic turning point." On the 3rd, as the Corruption Investigation Office for High-ranking Officials (CIO) moved to execute an arrest warrant against President Yoon Seok-yeol on charges of insurrection, a standoff with the Presidential Security Service ensued, and major foreign media outlets simultaneously reported the related news.
The New York Times (NYT), BBC, The Guardian, and others opened live broadcast sections on their homepage main screens, providing real-time coverage of the standoff in front of President Yoon's residence in Hannam-dong, treating the situation with significant emphasis.
NYT reported that dozens of police buses and thousands of police officers were deployed around the Hannam-dong residence, and as of 10:30 a.m., no news of an arrest had been heard. It stated, "A dangerous drama unfolded as officials attempting to execute the warrant clashed with supporters and the security team trying to block it." The outlet evaluated, "South Korea is facing a deepening political crisis since the impeachment incident, while also having to cope with the Jeju Air disaster. The authorities executing the warrant are forcing the impeached leader to answer questions about the declaration of martial law that plunged the country into political turmoil."
British broadcaster BBC also shared a video showing President Yoon's supporters shouting slogans and blocking the execution of the warrant. It pointed out that a military unit, presumed to be the Capital Defense Command, was obstructing the CIO, raising questions about the troops blocking the attempt to lawfully execute the arrest warrant.
The British daily The Guardian organized the execution of the arrest warrant by time on its live page, delivering real-time breaking news from the CIO officials passing through the main gate of the residence to the standoff with the Security Service. The Guardian stated, "The political crisis in South Korea has reached a dramatic turning point as investigators attempting the arrest became embroiled in a tense standoff with President Yoon's bodyguards," and diagnosed, "Even though the investigators have been inside the building for over three hours, it remains uncertain how the most serious political crisis South Korea has faced in decades will unfold."
Bloomberg News also covered the situation with reporters on site, providing real-time updates and photos, treating the matter with importance. Bloomberg reported, "President Yoon's declaration of martial law shook financial markets, damaged the domestic currency, and hindered diplomatic efforts," adding, "It also burdened the economy, leading the South Korean government to lower its 2025 growth forecast from 2.2% to 1.8%." Regarding the KOSPI rising about 2% amid political instability, Bloomberg analyzed, "Considering South Korea's political conflict, this is a surprising surge," but also noted, "This signals an influx of bargain hunters who judged that the Korean stock market's valuation was too cheap to last much longer."
CNN also featured an article on its homepage announcing the execution of the arrest warrant, and the British daily Financial Times (FT) reported on the standoff between the CIO and the Security Service from Seoul. FT stated that 30 CIO investigators and 120 police officers entered the residence but were in a standoff with the Security Service and others, while also reporting that supporters of President Yoon were holding rallies shouting 'Impeachment Nullification.' Additionally, major news agencies such as Reuters, AP, and AFP are reporting the execution process of the arrest warrant moment by moment in brief news flashes.
Earlier, the CIO obtained an arrest warrant for President Yoon from the Seoul Western District Court on the 31st of last month and began executing the warrant that morning. The CIO entered in front of the Hannam-dong residence around 7:20 a.m. but is currently in a standoff with the Security Service and military units.
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