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Former President Yoon Suk-yeol arrives at the Seoul High Prosecutors’ Office in Seocho District on August 5 for his second interrogation by the special counsel investigating his alleged role in a rebellion. / Source: Yonhap News

A second attempt to enforce an arrest warrant against former President Yoon Suk-yeol failed on August 7, after he once again strongly resisted efforts by the special counsel investigating First Lady Kim Keon-hee.

The team led by Special Counsel Min Jung-ki arrived at Seoul Detention Center in Uiwang, Gyeonggi Province, around 7:50 a.m. and attempted to execute the warrant at 8:25 a.m. However, after about an hour and fifteen minutes, the team suspended the operation at 9:40 a.m.

In a press statement, the special counsel’s office said, “We attempted to execute the arrest warrant, including the use of physical force, but halted the operation after field personnel expressed concern over potential injuries due to the suspect’s strong resistance.”

This marks the second failed attempt to detain Yoon after a similar incident on August 1. At that time, Yoon reportedly lay on the floor of his cell and refused to cooperate, even declining to wear the standard prison uniform.

The latest attempt came just one day after First Lady Kim Keon-hee was questioned by the special counsel for nearly seven hours regarding stock manipulation and political corruption allegations.

Despite earlier warnings that physical force would be used if necessary, and Justice Minister Jeong Seong-ho’s public insistence that the arrest would proceed “in accordance with law and principle,” the special counsel ultimately backed down again.

With the court-issued arrest warrant set to expire by the end of the day, there is growing speculation that the special counsel will soon seek a reissuance and make another attempt to detain Yoon.