Impeached South Korean President Resists Arrest as Supporters Clash with Police

The political crisis in South Korea has reached a boiling point as impeached President Yoon Suk Yeol refuses to comply with an arrest warrant, while thousands of his supporters block police from detaining him.

Yoon, a conservative leader, was impeached last month after declaring martial law and dispatching the military to the National Assembly in an effort to prevent lawmakers from overturning his decree. On Tuesday, a Seoul court issued an arrest warrant for Yoon, but his supporters have rallied outside his residence, physically preventing law enforcement from reaching him.

The Corruption Investigation Office for High-Ranking Officials issued the warrant, accusing Yoon of abusing his power. However, Yoon’s legal team argues that the arrest warrant and search of his residence violate the constitution.

Thousands of Yoon’s supporters, many waving South Korean and American flags, have formed a human barricade outside his presidential compound. Some even laid down in the streets to prevent police from advancing, leading to clashes and multiple arrests.

In a written message to his supporters, Yoon vowed to “fight to the end” against “anti-state forces”, thanking them for defending “liberal democracy and constitutional order.” His legal team has also warned that law enforcement officers who attempt to arrest Yoon could be detained by his security detail or even by civilians.

Yoon justified his December 3rd martial law declaration as a necessary step to defend South Korea from “North Korean communist forces and anti-state actors.” He also cited an unworkable relationship with the opposition-led National Assembly, which had:

• Impeached 22 officials since Yoon took office in 2022.

• Allegedly planned to target 10 more government officials.

• Cut funding from the national budget, which Yoon claimed turned South Korea into a “drug paradise” and a “public order panic.”

The National Assembly overwhelmingly voted 190-0 to end martial law, setting the stage for Yoon’s impeachment. Park Chan-dae, the Democratic Party’s floor leader, has called for Yoon’s immediate arrest, warning that blocking the detainment order could result in charges of rebellion.

Yoon’s presidential powers remain suspended while South Korea’s Constitutional Court reviews his impeachment. The nine-member court must have six justices vote in favor to permanently remove him. However, Yoon had left three vacancies on the court, delaying proceedings. On Tuesday, acting President Choi Sang-mok filled two of those vacancies, paving the way for the court to issue a ruling soon.

As tensions escalate and police consider their next move, South Korea faces its biggest political showdown in decades. Yoon’s defiant stand and the massive public support behind him suggest this crisis is far from over.

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