Hello and welcome to NewsAff from the BBC World Service.

We're coming to you live from London. I'm James Menendez.

And we're going to begin today in South Korea, where the ongoing political crisis there took an extraordinary turn today,

with a standoff outside the president's residence between his special guard and anti-corruption investigators backed by the police.

They were there to arrest President Yun Sunil for his failed attempt last month to impose martial law in South Korea.

You'll remember he's already been impeached by legislators.

But they weren't able to arrest him, prompting people to pour out onto the streets of the

capital's soul to express their outrage.

But there was also a counter-demonstration out by supporters of the impeach president.

Some were even seen waving the American flag and carrying placard, saying, stop the steel.

Banda!

Bani!

Chalki!

And these were the views of two people we spoke to on the streets of Seoul about the current crisis.

While it's a season to celebrate, I feel really pessimistic that this situation has still

been going on since the end of the year. Moreover, as a citizen of South Korea, I believe that

the president should be rapidly arrested and the appropriate

procedures must be implemented to reset peace in the country.

Isn't the situation in the hands of the constitutional court?

When they finish making their decision, the current president will step down because he

will accept it.

I think it's not appropriate to shamefully arrest the sitting president.

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