Impeached South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol has evaded arrest after a deadline passed but anti-graft investigators were likely to be granted more time to enforce the warrant.
The former star prosecutor has defiantly refused questioning three times over a bungled martial law decree last month and remained holed up in his residence surrounded by hundreds of guards preventing his arrest.
Investigators from the Corruption Investigation Office sought an extension to the warrant that expired at the end of Monday (3pm Irish time) and asked for support from the police, which said the force would help and may arrest anyone shielding Mr Yoon.
"The validity of the warrant expires today.
"We plan to request an extension from the court today," said CIO deputy director Lee Jae-seung, whose authority has been refuted by Mr Yoon's lawyers.
The request was officially filed this evening and an extension can be granted all the way up to the midnight deadline.
If the warrant expires, investigators can apply for another one.
The deadline passed without comment from investigators or Mr Yoon, but Mr Jae-seung earlier told reporters the likelihood for the court not to grant the extension "is very low".
Officials have sought more time and help because of the difficulties they have faced, including being met by hundreds of security forces when they entered Mr Yoon's presidential compound on Friday.
"We will consider the option of arresting any personnel from the Presidential Security Service during the execution of the second warrant", a police official said, speaking on condition of anonymity.
The opposition Democratic Party has also called for the dissolution of the security service protecting the impeached president.
If authorities detain Mr Yoon, who has already been suspended from duty by MPs, he would become the first sitting president in South Korean history to be arrested.
But they would only have 48 hours to either request another arrest warrant, in order to keep him in detention, or be forced to release him.
While officials have been unable to get to Mr Yoon, the joint investigation team has gone after top military officials behind the martial law plan.
The prosecution's martial law special investigation unit indicted Defence Intelligence Commander Moon Sang-ho on charges of playing an integral role in an insurrection and abuse of power.
Defiant supporters
Mr Yoon would face prison or, at worst, the death penalty if convicted for insurrection over briefly suspending civilian rule and plunging South Korea into its worst political crisis in decades.
But both he and his supporters have remained defiant.
"We will protect the Presidential Security Service till midnight," said Kim Soo-yong, 62, one of the protest organisers.
"If they get another warrant, we will come again."
Earlier, dozens of Mr Yoon's politicians from the People Power Party turned up in front of his presidential residence and police blocked roads.
"I've been here longer than the CIO now. It doesn't make sense why they can't do it.
"They need to arrest him immediately," said anti-Yoon protest organiser Kim Ah-young.
The initial warrant was issued on the grounds that Mr Yoon has refused to emerge for questioning over his martial law decree.
His lawyers have repeatedly said the warrant is "unlawful" and "illegal", pledging to take further legal action against it.
Blinken in town
US Secretary of State Antony Blinken has arrived in Seoul but did not meet Mr Yoon.
However, he held a joint news conference with Foreign Minister Cho Tae-yul.
Mr Blinken praised Seoul's democratic resilience but his focus was shifted away from domestic politics when North Korea fired what appeared to be an intercontinental ballistic missile into the sea as he met Mr Tae-yul.
South Korea's Constitutional Court has slated 14 January for the start of Mr Yoon's impeachment trial, which if he does not attend would continue in his absence.
A prosecutors' report for his former defence minister showed Mr Yoon ignored the objections of key cabinet ministers before his failed martial law bid, evidence the court may take into account.
The Constitutional Court has up to 180 days to determine whether to dismiss Mr Yoon as president or restore his powers.
Former presidents Roh Moo-hyun and Park Geun-hye never appeared for their impeachment trials.
