Supporters of ousted South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol demonstrate in front of his residence on January 2, 2025 in Seoul (AFP / Philip FONG)
Holed up in his residence, deposed South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol resisted his arrest on Thursday for the third day in a row, promising to “fight until the end” against the authorities who seek to question him over his failed attempt to impose martial law.
The Senior Corruption Investigation Office (CIO), which is centralizing investigations into the December 3 coup, has until January 6 to execute the arrest warrant issued by a Seoul court against Mr. Yoon.
The IOC requested the arrest warrant after the deposed president ignored three consecutive summons to be questioned.
Yoon Suk Yeol stunned South Korea on the night of December 3 to 4 by imposing martial law and sending the army to Parliament to try to muzzle him, an episode that reminded the country of the dark hours of the military dictatorship .
He was forced to backtrack a few hours later, when MPs managed to enter Parliament and pass a motion demanding the lifting of martial law while their aides blocked the chamber doors with furniture and thousands of pro-democracy demonstrators gathered outside.
Police officers stand guard around the residence of deposed South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol on January 2, 2025 in Seoul (AFP / Philip FONG)
Yoon Suk Yeol was impeached by Parliament on December 14 and is under investigation for “rebellion”, a crime punishable by death.
Since the arrest warrant was issued on Tuesday, supporters and detractors of Mr. Yoon have demonstrated almost constantly near his residence in Seoul, shouting abuse at each other over the police officers who separate them.
– “Delusional” –
The 64-year-old former star prosecutor has shown no contrition since his dismissal, going so far as to send a message of distrust to his base.
“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 wrote in a letter distributed to his supporters camped near his home , and whose authenticity was confirmed to AFP by his lawyer Yoon Kab-keun.
Supporters of ousted South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol demonstrate near his residence in Seoul, January 1, 2025 (AFP / Philip FONG)
“I swear to fight with you until the end to protect this nation,” he added, revealing that he was watching the protests outside his home live on YouTube.
A “delusional” message, denounced Jo Seoung-lae, the spokesperson for the Democratic Party, the main opposition force, accusing Mr. Yoon of inciting violence.
The deposed president, who does not have the right to leave the country, is in his official residence in Seoul, his lawyer confirmed to AFP. His legal team has filed an appeal against the arrest warrant, arguing that it is “unlawful and invalid.”
IOC chief Oh Dong-woon warned that anyone who tried to prevent Mr. Yoon's arrest could face prosecution themselves.
A court also issued search warrants for Mr. Yoon's official residence and other locations, an IOC official told AFP.
Supporters of ousted South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol demonstrate in front of his residence on January 2, 2025 in Seoul (AFP / Philip FONG)
But the presidential security service has so far prevented investigators from entering, citing a law prohibiting searches of places containing state secrets without the consent of the person responsible.
It is unclear how many guards are with Mr. Yoon, and how they will react if arrested. The official line of the presidential security service is to obey court orders.
But it has already happened, in 2000 and 2004, that the South Korean authorities failed to arrest elected officials wanted by the courts because a crowd of supporters had prevented the police from seizing the suspects during the seven days during which the arrest warrants were valid.
Mr. Yoon is currently suspended, pending the Constitutional Court validating or invalidating the dismissal voted by the deputies by mid-June. He remains on paper the president of the country.
The crisis worsened on Friday when Prime Minister Han Duck-soo, who was acting as president, was in turn dismissed by Parliament.
Presidential powers are now in the hands of Finance Minister Choi Sang-mok, who has promised to do everything possible to end the political chaos.
Mr. Yoon has since partially acceded to an opposition demand by appointing two new judges to the Constitutional Court, three of whose nine seats are vacant. This court must rule by a two-thirds majority to confirm the dismissal of the president, otherwise he will automatically return to his chair.
