Thousands braved heavy snowfall in Seoul on Sunday, demonstrating both for and against the arrest of impeached President Yoon Suk-yeol. The political crisis in South Korea, Asia's fourth-largest economy and a key U.S. ally, appears to be escalating towards another high-stakes confrontation.
The arrest warrant against Yoon, stemming from his alleged insurrection related to a failed martial law declaration on December 3, is set to expire at midnight on Monday. Demonstrators gathered near his official residence, with some demanding his immediate detention, while others rallied to prevent his arrest.
Yoon made history as South Korea's first sitting president to face an arrest over such charges. Following his impeachment by parliament, he has been suspended from official duties pending the Constitutional Court's decision on his reinstatement or removal. Recently, criminal investigators were thwarted from arresting him due to a six-hour standoff involving his presidential security service and military troops.
On Sunday, the Seoul Western District Court dismissed a complaint from Yoon's legal team, which claimed the arrest warrant was illegal and invalid. The court's rejection was reported by Yonhap News Agency, though attempts to reach the court for comment were unsuccessful.
Yoon's lawyers argue that the Corruption Investigation Office for High-Ranking Officials (CIO) lacks the authority to investigate insurrection charges under South Korean law. However, Rong Ying, a chair professor at Sichuan University and a senior research fellow at the China Institute of International Studies, informed CGTN that the investigation was a joint operation involving both the military and the police, undermining the legal basis of Yoon's defense.
In a statement released on Sunday, Yoon's legal team announced their intention to report CIO chief Oh Dong-woon and the investigation team to prosecutors for allegedly executing the warrant illegally, including the involvement of police forces without proper authority.
Seok Dong-hyeon, Yoon's legal advisor, expressed concerns on Facebook, stating, \"Judging the legitimacy of any legal interpretation and execution is difficult. If there is an error in the legality of law enforcement against the incumbent president, it will be a big problem.\"
The protests took place under harsh winter conditions, with temperatures dropping below minus 5 degrees Celsius and over 6 centimeters of snow accumulating in parts of Seoul. Yang Kyung-soo, leader of the Korean Confederation of Trade Unions (KCTU), emphasized the need to uphold the constitution, declaring, \"We have to reestablish the foundation of our society by punishing the president who has denied the constitution.\"
Opposing Yoon's arrest, his supporters held placards stating, \"We will fight for President Yoon Suk-yeol\" and echoed slogans like \"Stop the Steal,\" reminiscent of phrases used by supporters of former U.S. President Donald Trump.
Similar rallies on Saturday saw tens of thousands participate, leading to police attempts to disperse KCTU protesters who were blocking roads and disrupting traffic. Two individuals were detained for allegedly assaulting police officers, as reported by Yonhap.
Additionally, the CIO requested that acting President Choi Sang-mok, the finance minister, order the security service to comply with the arrest warrant on Saturday, though a finance ministry spokesperson declined to comment.
The unfolding situation highlights the deep political divisions within South Korea and the challenges facing the country's democratic institutions.
Reference(s):
cgtn.com
