Hundreds of supporters of South Korea’s impeached President Yoon Suk Yeol gathered outside his home on Wednesday, rallying to protect him as investigators prepared a new attempt to arrest him. Yoon has refused to be questioned and resisted arrest following his controversial December 3 martial law decree, which triggered the country’s worst political crisis in decades.
Investigators secured a fresh arrest warrant on Tuesday after an initial seven-day order expired. In response, several hundred of Yoon’s supporters gathered at his residence in central Seoul, braving freezing temperatures.
“A large number of people are coming out to join us. Despite the cold, many stayed up all night,” said Lee Hye-sook, a 57-year-old Yoon supporter, speaking outside his house. “Seeing their resilience against the wind and cold gives me confidence that President Yoon Suk Yeol will return, and we will prevail.”
Some supporters left flowers and ribbons emblazoned with the Trump-inspired slogan “Make Korea Great Again,” while others waved American flags at the compound gates where the suspended leader has been resisting arrest. You Se-ryung, a 46-year-old YouTuber who camped outside, suggested that South Korea’s key security ally, the United States, should intervene to “help” the country. Many of Yoon’s supporters have adopted slogans reminiscent of those used by US President-elect Donald Trump.
Yoon’s legal team confirmed that he remains inside his residence. “Last night, I personally visited the official residence, met the president, and left,” said Yoon’s lawyer, Yoon Kap-keun, who is unrelated.
The Corruption Investigation Office (CIO), which is leading the investigation into the president, has not disclosed how long the second warrant will last, following the expiration of the initial seven-day period on Monday.
If investigators manage to arrest Yoon, he would become the first sitting South Korean president to be detained. However, they would only have 48 hours to request a new arrest warrant to extend his detention or be forced to release him.
