Protesters in South Korea rally for, against Yoon’s arrest as deadline approaches Reuters
By Hyonhee Shin
SEOUL (Reuters) – Thousands braved heavy snow in Seoul on Sunday to rally for and against the arrest of impeached President Yoon Suk Yeol, as South Korea’s political crisis appeared headed for another high-stakes clash.
With an arrest warrant against Yoon for alleged rebellion expiring at midnight (1500 GMT) on Monday, multiple groups held demonstrations near his official residence, some demanding his immediate arrest and others protesting against it.
Yoon became the country’s first sitting president to face arrest for his failed attempt to declare a state of emergency on Dec. 3, sparking political chaos that has engulfed Asia’s fourth-largest economy and a key US ally.
The conservative president was impeached by parliament and suspended from official duties while the court decides whether to reinstate or remove him. Yoon’s presidential security service and military troops prevented criminal investigators from arresting him in a six-hour standoff on Friday.
Some of Sunday’s protesters gathered overnight in central Seoul, where temperatures fell below minus 5 degrees Celsius (23 degrees Fahrenheit). More than 5 cm (2 inches) of snow accumulated in parts of the capital, which was under a heavy snow warning.
“We must restore the foundations of our society by punishing the president who denied the constitution,” said Yang Kyung-soo, head of the Korean Confederation of Trade Unions (KCTU), the main labor group involved in the protests.
“We must take down the criminal Yoon Suk Yeol and arrest and detain him as soon as possible.”
Nearby, supporters of Yoon held placards reading “We will fight for President Yoon Suk Yeol” and “Stop the theft,” a phrase popularized by supporters of US President-elect Donald Trump after he lost the 2016 election.
Similar rallies drew tens of thousands on Saturday, prompting police to try to disperse KCTU protesters who occupied roads and disrupted traffic. Two of them were detained, accused of attacking police officers, Yonhap news agency reported.
On Saturday, the High-ranking Corruption Investigation Bureau, which is handling Yoon’s criminal investigation, again asked Acting President Choi Sang-mok, the finance minister, to order the security service to comply with the arrest warrant.
A spokesman for the finance ministry declined to comment.
