Thousands protest in South Korea as Yoon resists second arrest attempt | Politics news

Thousands of South Koreans continued to gather for rival protests in Seoul as investigators prepared another attempt to arrest suspended President Yoon Suk-yeol for his short-lived martial law decree amid warnings against a potential spillover of blood

Protesters both for and against Yoon gathered in sub-zero conditions along major roads in the center of the country’s capital on Saturday, both demanding his arrest and asking that his indictment be declared invalid.

Yoon resisted arrest in a standoff between his guards and investigators last week, after his failed on December 3 the seizure of power plunging South Korea into its worst political crisis in decades.

On Friday, Park Chong-jun, Yoon’s security chief, resigned from his post after being investigated for blocking the embattled president’s arrest. Park warned that any further efforts to arrest the ex-leader must avoid violence.

He told reporters that the current attempt to arrest Yoon was wrong and that “there should not be any physical confrontation or bloodshed under any circumstances.”

On Saturday, Park was again questioned about blocking Yoon’s arrest.

The country has been reeling under tension for weeks after Yoon ordered soldiers to storm parliament, where they tried unsuccessfully to prevent politicians from voting on martial law.

Since the failed martial law attempt, the parliament has impeached Yoon, and he has been suspended pending a final decision from the constitutional court on his removal.

Meanwhile, prosecutors conducted a separate investigation and had secured a court order for Yoon’s arrest and detention, which presidential security defied. The arrest warrant expired on Monday.

Kim Seong-hun took Park’s place as Yoon’s head of security. He is expected to lead efforts to prevent the execution of a second arrest warrant. According to news reports, Yoon’s guards have reinforced their Seoul compound with barbed wire installations and bus barricades.

The IOC said it would “thoroughly prepare” for its second attempt to arrest Yoon and warned that anyone obstructing it could be arrested.

The National Bureau of Investigation, a police unit, also sent a memo to senior police officials in Seoul, asking them to prepare to mobilize 1,000 investigators for the new attempt, Yonhap news agency reported. .

If Yoon is taken into custody, he will become the first sitting South Korean president to be arrested.

Al Jazeera’s Patrick Fok, reporting from Seoul, said there was no indication when a second arrest warrant for Yoon might be executed, but said the week ahead could be decisive for the political crisis as that Yoon’s first impeachment hearing is scheduled. Tuesday.

“Whether he will appear before the constitutional court is not clear; he suggested that he may not because of some legal issues that remain unresolved,” said Fok. “And that’s going to complicate this whole process if he doesn’t appear in court.”

Fok said the mood of Saturday’s protests remained celebratory and peaceful.

“These could be some of the biggest protests we’ve seen since this political saga unfolded, with some reports suggesting there are up to half a million people on the streets of Seoul,” he said.

“If you come here, you will be forgiven for mistaking this for some kind of K-pop concert. These demonstrations that have taken place are loud and colorful and are meticulously organized. It is easy to see why so many people want to be involved.”

Anti-Yoon protester and student Kim Min-ji, 25, told the AFP news agency that the police and the Corruption Investigation Bureau (CIO) did not act decisively.

“Despite our efforts, (Yoon) continues to evade responsibility,” Kim said. “It is crucial for us to raise our voices until he is removed from office.”

Su Yo-hahn, 71, a Yoon supporter, said the incumbent president’s declaration of martial law which he said was to root out anti-state forces had “valid reasons”.

“He is someone who was elected by the people and represents our country. Saving Yoon is the way to save our nation,” said Su.

Brandon Kang, a 28-year-old Yoon supporter, told AFP he liked the president because he found him “quite similar to US President-elect Donald Trump, who I really … appreciate.”