Thousands of South Koreans braved heavy snowfall in Seoul on Sunday to protest both for and against the arrest of impeached President Yoon Suk-yeol. As the nation’s political crisis deepens, citizens took to the streets near the presidential residence, voicing their divergent views on Yoon’s potential detention.
President Yoon became the first sitting South Korean leader to face arrest after an alleged attempt to declare martial law on December 3, which plunged the country into political turmoil. Parliament has since impeached him, suspending his official duties while the Constitutional Court deliberates on whether to reinstate or remove him from office.
An arrest warrant for Yoon, issued over allegations of insurrection, is set to expire at midnight on Monday. On Friday, efforts by criminal investigators to detain him were thwarted by Yoon’s presidential security service and military troops during a tense six-hour standoff.
On Sunday, the Seoul Western District Court rejected a complaint from Yoon’s legal team claiming that the arrest warrant was illegal and invalid, according to Yonhap news agency. The lawyers argue that the Corruption Investigation Office for High-Ranking Officials (CIO), which is leading the investigation, lacks the authority under South Korean law to pursue cases involving insurrection.
“If there is an error in the legality of law enforcement against the incumbent president, it will be a big problem,” said Seok Dong-hyeon, a lawyer advising Yoon, in a statement on social media. Yoon’s legal team has indicated plans to report CIO chief Oh Dong-woon and the investigation team to prosecutors for what they describe as unlawfully executing the warrant, including mobilizing police without proper authority.
Despite the freezing temperatures and snowfall exceeding six centimeters in some areas of the capital, protesters remained undeterred. “We have to reestablish the foundation of our society by punishing the president who has denied the constitution,” said Yang Kyung-soo, leader of the Korean Confederation of Trade Unions (KCTU), a major labor group participating in the demonstrations. “We must bring down the criminal Yoon Suk-yeol and arrest and detain him as soon as possible.”
Meanwhile, supporters of Yoon held placards declaring, “We will fight for President Yoon Suk-yeol” and “Stop the Steal,” echoing phrases used in political protests elsewhere. On Saturday, similar rallies drew tens of thousands, leading to clashes with police attempting to disperse protesters occupying roads and disrupting traffic. Local media reported that two individuals were detained for allegedly assaulting police officers.
The CIO has requested acting President Choi Sang-mok, also the finance minister, to order the presidential security service to comply with the arrest warrant. As tensions escalate, South Korea faces a critical juncture in its political landscape, with the nation awaiting the Constitutional Court’s decision and the potential arrest of its sitting president.
Reference(s):
cgtn.com
