Thousands of South Korean citizens gathered near the residence of impeached President Yoon Suk Yeol on Sunday, as the deadline for his arrest warrant approached.
Supporters and detractors of President Yoon filled a typically serene neighborhood’s wide four-lane road, completely halting traffic amid freezing temperatures and falling snow.
The move to arrest Yoon followed the issuance of an arrest and search warrant by a South Korean court on December 31, concerning his brief enactment of martial law.
According to Yonhap, the warrant remains valid until January 6, compelling investigators to act swiftly if they wish to apprehend the president by Monday.
On December 3, Yoon declared martial law in a televised address, justifying it as a response to the liberal opposition’s actions, which he claimed had resulted in government paralysis.
Tensions escalated as over 100 officials from the CIO anti-corruption unit and police withdrew after a standoff with presidential security, heightening hostilities.
Pro-Yoon groups have taken to the streets, asserting their resolve to defend him against perceived threats from “pro-North Korean” factions, while his opponents insist on his incarceration for his actions.
The legality of the arrest warrant has been challenged by numerous legal scholars, who note that it unusually allows for searches of sensitive military and presidential sites without typical legal constraints.
This directive is unprecedented and seen by some as a stark overreach of judicial power, potentially infringing on the doctrine of separation of powers.
Experts argue that unlike standard search warrants that specify boundaries, this warrant’s exclusion of key legal norms is a first of its kind.
Following Yoon’s martial law declaration, intense protests broke out, and the National Assembly swiftly voted to demand its reversal.
After the Assembly’s decision, Yoon promised to withdraw the martial law measures pending a cabinet quorum, which was subsequently achieved, leading to the official revocation of the order.
The Democratic Party has urged Yoon to step down due to the “fundamentally invalid” martial law declaration and has pursued impeachment proceedings against him.
Yoon’s presidency has been suspended since December 14, following his impeachment by a significant majority in the National Assembly.
As debates over the warrant’s validity continue, the Presidential Security Service has also come under scrutiny.
A combined effort by the CIO, police, and prosecutors has faced challenges in detaining Yoon, hindered by his security detail.
After an incident where entry to the residence was obstructed, charges of obstruction of justice are being considered against the security chief.
The security team’s robust defense tactics, including vehicle barricades and a human shield, have drawn criticism for their intensity.
Despite accusations from some media and politicians that the Presidential Security Service is acting as private soldiers, the head of the service expressed dismay at such portrayals and denied any violent actions during the standoffs.
