South Korea’s Impeached President Defies Arrest Over Martial Law Attempt

 

Impeached South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol continued to resist arrest on Thursday, remaining inside his residence for a third consecutive day after issuing a controversial statement in December declaring a failed martial law attempt. His declaration on December 3 led to his impeachment, and now he faces the possibility of arrest, imprisonment, or even the death penalty.

Since his impeachment, supporters and opponents of Yoon have gathered outside his official residence, with his security team preventing attempted police raids, creating a tense standoff. Despite the mounting pressure, Yoon has shown no remorse, vowing to “fight” against authorities seeking to question him about his actions.

In a defiant statement, 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.” He pledged, “I vow to fight alongside you to the very end to protect this nation,” and mentioned watching the protest, which gathered hundreds of people, via a YouTube livestream.

Yoon’s lawyer, Yoon Kab-keun, confirmed to AFP that the impeached president remained at the presidential residence. However, opposition lawmakers quickly condemned Yoon’s message, calling it inflammatory. Democratic Party spokesperson Jo Seoung-lae described him as “delusional” and accused him of attempting to incite violence.

Yoon’s legal team has filed an injunction to block the arrest warrant, labeling the move as “unlawful” and “invalid.” The legal battle has sparked warnings from officials, including Corruption Investigation Office (CIO) chief Oh Dong-woon, who stated that anyone obstructing Yoon’s arrest could face prosecution.

Along with the summons for arrest, a Seoul court issued a search warrant for Yoon’s residence and other locations associated with him. However, the presidential security service has cited laws that prevent seizure of official secrets without consent, blocking the searches.

This situation mirrors previous instances in South Korea, where lawmakers managed to block arrest warrants in 2000 and 2004. The arrest discussions are taking place against the backdrop of a political crisis reminiscent of the country’s past military rule.

The martial law order, which Yoon had issued in a bid to eliminate “anti-state elements,” was quickly quashed after a few hours when armed troops stormed the National Assembly building, only for lawmakers to vote it down. Following this, Yoon was stripped of his duties by parliament and now faces charges of insurrection.

Yoon has ignored three summons for questioning and has continued to assert that the opposition is aligned with South Korea’s communist adversaries. His supporters have traveled to Seoul to rally behind him, raising anti-impeachment placards and confronting police.

The situation worsened when Yoon’s successor, Han Duck-soo, was impeached by parliament for not signing bills related to investigations into Yoon’s actions. Finance Minister Choi Sang-mok has been named acting president and has vowed to bring an end to the political turmoil. However, Choi’s decision to appoint two new judges to the Constitutional Court has faced criticism from Yoon’s staff, who view it as an overreach of power.

As South Korea’s Constitutional Court prepares to rule on Yoon’s impeachment, the nation remains embroiled in a significant political crisis.