Protesters have thronged the official residence of impeached President Yoon Suk Yeol, where officials trying to arrest him were blocked by security guards.

South Korea's political leadership was in uncharted territory Saturday after the sitting president resisted arrest over a failed martial law decree days before the warrant expires.

Officials called off the effort due to concerns over the safety of its personnel after they were outnumbered by cordons of presidential security service personnel inside the compound.