Thousands protest in South Korea as Yoon resists second arrest attempt

As investigators make another attempt to arrest suspended President Yoon Suk-yeol over his brief-lived martial law decree amid warnings against potential bloodshed, thousands of South Koreans have continued to gather in Seoul for rival protests.

On Saturday, protesters for and against Yoon gathered in sub-zero conditions along major roads in the country’s capital to demand his arrest or for his impeachment to be declared invalid.

After his failed December 3 power grab plunged South Korea into its worst political crisis in decades, Yoon has been resisting arrest in a standoff between his guards and investigators last week.

On Friday, Park Chong-jun, Yoon’s chief of security, resigned from his post after being investigated for blocking the embattled president’s arrest. Park cautioned against using violence in any subsequent detainment attempts against the ex-leader.

He claimed that Yoon’s current arrest attempt was flawed and that “nothing should occur in any way between physical conflict or bloodshed.”

On Saturday, Park was again placed under questioning for blocking Yoon’s arrest.

After Yoon ordered soldiers to storm parliament, where they unsuccessfully attempted to stop politicians from abiding by martial law, the nation has racked up tension for weeks.

Yoon has been suspended while the parliament awaits a final ruling from the constitutional court regarding his removal after the failed martial law attempt.

In the meantime, prosecutors carried out a separate investigation and had secured a court order for Yoon’s arrest and detention, which the presidential security defied. On Monday, the arrest warrant expired.

Kim Seong-hun has taken over from Park as chief of Yoon’s security. He is anticipated to lead the efforts to stop the issuance of a second arrest warrant. According to news reports, Yoon’s guards have reinforced his Seoul compound with barbed-wire installations and bus barricades.

The CIO warned that anyone obstructing them could be detained and said it will “prepare thoroughly” for its second attempt to arrest Yoon.

The National Office of Investigation, a police unit, has also sent a note to high-ranking police officials in Seoul requesting they prepare to mobilise 1, 000 investigators for the new attempt, Yonhap news agency reported.

Yoon would become the first South Korean president to be detained while in office.

According to Al Jazeera’s Patrick Fok, who is based in Seoul and reports from Seoul, there is no word on when Yoon’s second arrest warrant will be executed, but he said the upcoming week could be crucial for the political crisis because Yoon’s first impeachment hearing is scheduled for Tuesday.

He has suggested he might not because of some legal issues that are still unresolved, according to Fok. If he doesn’t appear in court, that will complicate the entire process.

Fok claimed that Saturday’s protests were still peaceful and celebratory.

According to reports, there may be as many as half a million people on Seoul’s streets, which would be “one of the biggest protests we’ve witnessed since this political saga broke out,” he claimed.

“If you came down here, you’d be forgiven for mistaking this for some sort of K-pop concert. These rallies are meticulously planned, loud, and colorful, all of which. It’s easy to see why so many people want to be involved”.

Anti-Yoon protester and student Kim Min-ji, 25, told the AFP news agency that the police and the Corruption Investigation Office (CIO) have failed to act decisively.

“Despite our efforts,]Yoon] continues to evade accountability”, Kim said. “We must raise our voices until he is removed from office,” he said.

Yoon supporter Su Yo-hahn, 71, said the sitting president’s martial law declaration which he alleged was to root out antistate forces had “valid reasons”.

He represents our nation and was elected by the electorate. Saving Yoon is the way to save our nation”, said Su.

Brandon Kang, a 28-year-old Yoon supporter, told AFP he liked the president because he found him “quite similar to US President-elect Donald Trump, which I really … appreciate”.

Source: Aljazeera