The CIO told reporters that its investigators were confronted by around 200 secret service officials and troops, who formed a human wall some 200 meters ahead of Yoon’s residence.

A few CIO prosecutors were eventually allowed to approach the residence to present the arrest warrant to secret service chief Park Chong-jun around 10:10 a.m., but he denied access to the residence, citing presidential security regulations.

About 100 officials from the CIO and the police had been in the presidential compound during the standoff.