• Opponents demand his detention, supporters seek invalidation of impeachment
• Investigators ask acting president to clear way for Yoon’s arrest

SEOUL: Thousands of rival South Korean protesters rallied in the capital Saturday, a day after a failed attempt to arrest suspended President Yoon Suk Yeol for imposing a short-lived martial law decree that led to his impeachment.

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 officers who have so far resisted efforts by prosecutors to arrest him.

Thousands of protesters, both for and against Yoon, gathered in front of the residence and along major roads in Seoul on Saturday — either demanding his arrest or calling for his impeachment to be declared invalid.

Members of the Korean Confederation of Trade Unions, South Korea’s largest umbrella union, attempted to march to Yoon’s residence to protest against him, but were blocked by police. It said two of its members were arrested, and several others were injured in clashes.

Yoon faces criminal charges of insurrection, one of a few crimes not subject to presidential immunity, meaning he could be sentenced to prison or, at worst, the death penalty. If the warrant is executed, Yoon would become the first sitting South Korean president to be arrested.

Arrest showdown

Investigators have asked Finance Minister Choi Sang-mok, who was installed as acting president a week ago, to back the warrant by ordering the presidential security service to cooperate.

The Service said two top officials from the had refused a police request on Saturday for questioning, citing the “serious nature” of protecting him.

In scenes of high drama on Friday, Yoon’s guards and military troops shielded him from investigators who eventually called off the arrest attempt citing safety concerns.

The showdown — which reportedly included shoving but no shots fired — left the warrant in limbo, with the court order set to expire on Monday.

Yoon has remained defiant and told his right-wing supporters this week he would fight “to the very end” for his political survival. By the time investigators arrived to arrest Yoon, he had layered his presidential compound with hundreds of security forces.

Around 20 investigators and 80 police officers were heavily outnumbered by around 200 soldiers and security personnel linking arms to block their way.

The weeks of political turmoil have threatened the country’s stability. South Korea’s key security ally, the United States, called for the political elite to work towards a “stable path” forward.

US Secretary of State Antony Blinken is scheduled to hold talks in Seoul on Monday, with one eye on US-South Korea relations and another on North Korea.

Published in Dawn, January 5th, 2025