Thousands of rival South Korean protesters gathered in the capital a day after a failed attempt to arrest the country’s suspended president, Yoon Suk Yeol, for imposing a brief martial law decree that led to his dismissal.
The country has been plunged into political chaos since last month, with Yoon defiantly holed up in the presidential residence, surrounded by hundreds of loyal security agents who have so far resisted prosecutors’ efforts to arrest him.
Thousands of protesters for and against Yoon gathered outside the residence and along main roads in Seoul on Saturday, demanding either his arrest or reversal of his impeachment.
Yoon supporter Kim Chul-hong, 60, said his arrest could undermine South Korea’s security alliance with the United States and Japan.
“Protecting President Yoon means safeguarding our country’s security against threats from North Korea,” he said.
Members of the Korean Confederation of Trade Unions, South Korea’s largest union, attempted to march to Yoon’s residence to demonstrate against him, but were blocked by police.
He said two of its members were arrested and several others were injured during clashes.
Yoon faces criminal charges of insurrection, one of the few crimes not subject to presidential immunity, meaning he could face prison or, at worst, the death penalty.
If the warrant is executed, Yoon will become the first sitting South Korean president to be arrested.
Investigators asked Finance Minister Choi Sang-mok, who was named acting president a week ago, to support the mandate by ordering presidential security services to cooperate.
The service said two of its senior officials refused a police request for questioning, citing the “serious nature” of Yoon’s protection.
In dramatic scenes Friday, Yoon’s guards and military personnel shielded him from investigators who ultimately called off the attempted arrest, citing security concerns.
The confrontation, which reportedly included shoving but no shots fired, left the arrest warrant in limbo, with the court order set to expire Monday.
The Corruption Investigation Office (CIO) could try to arrest him again before then. If the mandate expires, they can request another one.
The Constitutional Court has scheduled Yoon’s impeachment trial to begin on January 14, which will take place in his absence if he is not present.
Former presidents Roh Moo-hyun and Park Geun-hye did not appear in court during their impeachment proceedings.
Yoon’s lawyers called Friday’s attempted arrest “illegal and invalid” and vowed to take legal action.
Experts said investigators may wait for further legal justification before attempting to arrest the suspended president again.
Chae Jin-won of Kyung Hee University’s Humanitas College said: “It may be difficult to make the arrest until the Constitutional Court rules on the impeachment motion and strips him of the presidential title . »
Yoon told his right-wing supporters this week that he would fight “to the end” for his political survival.
The United States, South Korea’s main security ally, has called on political leaders to work toward a “stable path.”
Outgoing US Secretary of State Antony Blinken is set to hold talks in Seoul on Monday, with one eye on US-South Korea relations and another on nuclear-armed North Korea .
theguardian