South Korea’s political crisis deepens after failed attempt to arrest ousted president

Rallies of detractors and supporters of ousted President Yoon Suk Yeol are planned this Saturday, January 4, in downtown Seoul starting early in the afternoon, near the capital’s main square and in front of the presidential residence.

The day before, soldiers and security services blocked the investigators who came to arrest Yoon Suk Yeol, and who ended up calling off the operation after about six hours of negotiations and tensions. Such an arrest would be the first of a sitting head of state in the country’s history, the former prosecutor officially remaining the president while waiting for the Constitutional Court to confirm or overturn his dismissal, adopted by parliament on 14 last December.

Suspended from his functions since, he is accused of having caused the young South Korean democracy to falter on December 3 by proclaiming martial law by surprise, before repealing it a few hours later, under pressure from parliament and thousands of demonstrators and constrained by the Constitution.

He has since been the target of an investigation for “rebellion”, a crime which does not fall under presidential immunity. On Friday, the investigators, although armed with a warrant, were defeated by some 200 soldiers and presidential guards.

«There were minor and major physical altercations» between the two camps, said an official from the Office for the Investigation of Corruption of High Personalities (CIO), who has until Monday to execute the arrest warrant. Its officials mentioned a possible new test before the deadline, and the request for a new mandate if necessary. In a statement, investigators also asked interim President Choi Sang-mok to support the arrest order.

Constitutional trial on January 14

For its part, the Constitutional Court set January 14 for the opening of the impeachment trial against Yoon Suk Yeol, which will continue its course even without him and which will have a verdict by mid-June. The accused has so far rejected all summons in connection with his violent attack and his guard has repeatedly obstructed police searches, even though on warrant.

This Saturday, two people responsible for his protection refused to appear before the police, citing nature “serious» of their mission. The lawyers of the deposed president, for their part, denounce an attempted arrest “illegal» and promised to initiate proceedings to challenge it.

The deposed president still defends his decision of December 3, despite the serious political disorder it caused, the first interim president having also been dismissed before Choi Sang-mok took office.

In a letter distributed Wednesday to his most radical supporters, present in front of his residence, Mr. Yoon promised to “beat until the very end», repeating its attacks against internal and external elements “threatening» South Korea which he had already formulated by declaring martial law.