Tensions run high ahead of South Korean president’s imminent arrest

Tensions were running high around presidential residence on Thursday as investigators moved to arrest South Korea’s impeached President Yoon Suk Yeol.

Dozens of supporters of Yon are camping outside the presidential residence to thwart any move by the Corruption Investigation Office for High-ranking Officials (CIO) to arrest Yoon.

The scenes outside Yoon’s residence in Yongsan district in the capital Seoul turned ugly when conservative supporters, including YouTubers, of the president engaged in physical clashes prompting police to intervene, according to daily JoongAng.

The second group led by liberals is urging the arrest of the president after warrants were issued by Seoul Western District Court on Tuesday. The warrants expire on coming Monday.

Yoon has been charged with masterminding the short-lived Dec. 3 martial law, insurrection, treason as well as abusing his power.

He is the first sitting president to face such charges of insurrection, treason, a travel ban as well as an unprecedented arrest warrant.

The trouble outside the presidential residence began after one of Yoon’s supporters crossed the police cordon, the report added.

While investigators are usually quick to implement arrest warrants, the CIO has been cautious in the case of Yoon, whose key aide former Defense Minister Kim Yong-hyun has been already arrested besides several military commanders over the failed martial law.

According to Seoul-based Yonhap News, the anti-corruption agency would likely proceed with the warrant to detain Yoon as early as Thursday.

Yoon was impeached on Dec. 14 by parliament and is facing a trial by the Constitutional Court which may take six months to decide whether to remove him from office.

The cautious strategy by the CIO was implemented after Yoon defied four summons to attend questioning while his security blocked entry of the investigators into his office.

However, the CIO chief Oh Dong-woon has warned the presidential security that any attempt to block the arrest of Yoon could amount to dereliction of duty and obstruction of official duties.

In a written address to his supporters on Wednesday night, Yoon said he would “fight to the end to protect the country.”

“Due to internal and external forces infringing on its sovereignty and the activities of anti-state groups, South Korea is now in danger,” said Yoon, who has denied charges of insurrection and treason

Source: Anadolu Agency.