Lawyers for impeached South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol are denouncing efforts to detain him over his short-lived imposition of martial law, while the country's acting leader expressed concern over a possible clash between law enforcement agents and presidential security personnel.

SEOUL (Reuters) -South Korean investigators again asked the country's acting president on Saturday to order the presidential security service to comply with an arrest warrant for impeached President Yoon Suk Yeol.

The plane crash is the first major test for South Korea’s acting president, Choi Sang-mok, who was appointed the interim leader only on Friday, as the country grapples with a political crisis at the highest levels.

South Korean lawmakers voted on Friday to impeach acting president Han Duck Soo, barely two weeks after Yoon Suk Yeol was removed from the presidency over his imposition of martial law. A total of 192 lawmakers in the opposition-controlled parliament voted to impeach Han - significantly more than the simple majority required.

The impeachment of Han Duck-soo, acting president since Yoon was impeached on Dec. 14 for declaring martial law, has thrown South Korea's once-vibrant democratic success story into uncharted territory.

South Korea's opposition-controlled National Assembly voted Friday to impeach acting President Han Duck-soo despite vehement protests by governing party lawmakers, further deepening the country's political crisis set off by President Yoon Suk Yeol's stunning imposition of martial law and ensuing impeachment.

Han Duck-soo declined to make judicial appointments needed to advance the impeachment of his predecessor.

With a warrant out for his arrest, South Korea president Yoon Suk Yeol has hunkered down in his hillside villa for weeks. Investigators failed to detain him Jan. 3. As they prepare a new attempt, presidential guards are fortifying the residence.

South Korea’s anti-corruption agency says it has received a new court warrant to detain impeached President Yoon Suk Yeol after its previous attempt was blocked by the presidential security service la

South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol delivers an address to the nation at the Presidential Office in Seoul, South Korea, December 12, 2024. The Presidential Office/Handout via REUTERS/File Photo SEOUL (Reuters) -A South Korean court has re-issued a warrant to arrest impeached President Yoon Suk Yeol,