Impeached South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol has remained inside his residence for a third consecutive day on Thursday, resisting arrest after pledging to “fight” authorities seeking to question him over his failed attempt to impose martial law.
Yoon’s controversial declaration on December 3, which led to his impeachment, left him facing the threat of arrest, imprisonment, or even the death penalty.
Both supporters and detractors of Yoon have gathered outside his official residence, while his security team has successfully thwarted police raids in a tense standoff.
Despite the ongoing crisis, Yoon has shown no remorse, delivering a defiant message to his supporters just days before the arrest warrant expires on January 6. In a statement circulated to protesters, confirmed by his lawyer Yoon Kab-keun, Yoon declared: “The Republic of Korea is currently in danger due to internal and external forces threatening its sovereignty, and the activities of anti-state elements. I vow to fight alongside you to the very end to protect this nation.” Yoon also mentioned he had watched the protest, which drew hundreds, via a YouTube live stream on Wednesday evening.
Yoon’s lawyer confirmed that the former president was still inside the presidential compound. “The president is at the (official presidential) residence,” Yoon Kab-keun stated.
Opposition lawmakers quickly condemned Yoon’s message as provocative, with Democratic Party spokesperson Jo Seoung-lae calling it delusional and accusing him of inciting unrest.
Yoon’s legal team has filed for an injunction to block the arrest warrant, labeling the order issued on Wednesday as unlawful and invalid.
The head of the Corruption Investigation Office (CIO), Oh Dong-woon, warned that anyone obstructing authorities from arresting Yoon could face prosecution. Along with the summons, a Seoul court also issued a search warrant for his official residence and other locations, according to an official from the CIO.
The presidential security service has maintained that the warrants should be handled in accordance with due process, but the guards have obstructed attempts to search Yoon’s office and residence, citing two articles in South Korea’s Criminal Procedure Act that prevent the seizure of official secrets without consent from the person in charge.
This standoff echoes past incidents, such as in 2000 and 2004, when lawmakers faced similar arrest warrants, but party members and supporters blocked police for the seven-day period the warrants were valid.
Behind the scenes, discussions continue between prosecutors and police regarding Yoon’s arrest, set against the backdrop of the political crisis that briefly harked back to South Korea’s days under military rule. Yoon’s martial law order, which he claimed was aimed at eliminating “anti-state elements,” lasted only a few hours before being reversed. Armed troops stormed the National Assembly building, scaling fences, smashing windows, and landing by helicopter, but the president quickly backpedaled after lawmakers voted to reject the order.
As a result, Yoon was stripped of his presidential powers by parliament and is now facing criminal charges of insurrection. He has refused to comply with three summons for questioning and has continued to assert that the opposition is aligned with South Korea’s communist enemies.
Yoon’s supporters have flocked to Seoul, defending him and criticizing the police while waving anti-impeachment placards. The constitutional court is set to rule on whether his impeachment will be upheld.
The political turmoil escalated further late last week when Yoon’s successor, Han Duck-soo, was also impeached for failing to sign bills for investigations into his predecessor. Finance Minister Choi Sang-mok has assumed the role of acting president, vowing to resolve the political crisis. However, Choi’s decision to appoint two new judges to the constitutional court, a key demand from the opposition, has drawn criticism from Yoon’s team, who argue that he is overstepping his authority.
