SEOUL, South Korea — South Korean authorities on Wednesday began a second attempt to detain President Yoon Seok-yeol for his botched declaration of martial law. A few weeks ago, the first attempt ended in a dramatic confrontation at the official residence where Yun Seok-yeol has been holed up since his impeachment. .

Investigators arrived at President Yoon's official residence in central Seoul before dawn and were met by members of his security service, who also blocked them when they first tried to detain President Yoon on January 3.

Yoon's lawyers and People's Power Party MPs, who were also on the road to the residence, argued that the warrant was illegal and blocked police from advancing toward the residence's entrance.

Yin is wanted for declaring a brief martial law last month, a move that plunged a key U.S. ally into political instability. He could face rebellion charges, one of the few crimes for which South Korea's president does not have immunity.

If the arrest warrant is successfully executed, Yoon will become South Korea's first president to be arrested while in office.

The second arrest attempt came a day after South Korea's Constitutional Court began a trial to determine whether to uphold lawmakers' Dec. 14 impeachment of Yoon.

Yin, 64, did not attend the first day of proceedings on Tuesday, citing safety concerns. He spent several weeks in a hillside villa that was lined with barbed wire and vehicles blocking possible access.

During the first arrest attempt, the president's bodyguards ignored orders to stand down and faced off with law enforcement for hours, saying they were required by law to protect the president. They were supported by thousands of Yoon's conservative supporters, many of whom carried American flags and placards with slogans inspired by U.S. President-elect Donald Trump, such as "Stop the Steal."

Investigators have since regrouped and the search warrant was reissued last week after it expired.

The country's acting leader, Deputy Prime Minister Choi Sang-mok, expressed concern about possible clashes between authorities and the president's bodyguards.

The Senior Officials Corruption Investigation Office, which is leading the joint investigation, said that about 1,000 police officers will be dispatched to assist in executing the arrest warrant. Authorities also warned that anyone trying to hinder them could face arrest.

Yoon's lawyers warned that dragging him out of his home in handcuffs could trigger a "civil war" in a country deeply divided along ideological and generational lines.

If Yin is successfully detained for interrogation, he can be detained for up to 48 hours. Investigators would then need to apply for another arrest warrant to formally charge him and continue to detain him.

Yoon, who takes office for a five-year term in 2022, has been trying to advance the legislative agenda in the opposition-controlled parliament.

In a late-night speech on December 3, he unexpectedly accused "anti-national forces" of paralyzing the government and sympathizing with communist North Korea, and declared emergency martial law, which included a ban on all political activities.

He rescinded the order about six hours later after lawmakers voted unanimously to reject it.

Although Mr. Yoon has apologized for declaring martial law, he has repeatedly resisted subpoenas for criminal investigation questioning and said he had the power as president to issue the order, South Korea's first since 1980.

The incident has deeply shaken South Korea, which has a long history of military dictatorship but has since transformed into one of Asia's most dynamic democracies and the world's 10th largest economy.

Stella Kim reported from Seoul, South Korea, Max Burman reported from London, and Jennifer Jett reported from Hong Kong.