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

Thousands of South Koreans have continued to gather for rival protests in Seoul, as investigators prepare another attempt to arrest suspended President Yoon Suk-yeol over his brief martial law decree amid warnings against possible bloodshed.

Protesters for and against Yoon gathered Saturday in sub-zero conditions along main roads in the center of the nation’s capital, demanding his arrest or calling for his impeachment to be declared invalid.

Yoon resisted arrest in a confrontation between his guards and investigators last week, after his failed Dec. 3 takeover plunged South Korea into its worst political crisis in decades.

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

He told reporters that the current attempt to arrest Yoon was wrong and that “there should be no physical confrontation or bloodshed under any circumstances.”

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

The country has been on edge for weeks after Yoon ordered soldiers to storm parliament, where they tried unsuccessfully to stop politicians from rejecting martial law.

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

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

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

The CIO said it will “prepare thoroughly” for its second attempt to arrest Yoon and warned that anyone who obstructs them could be detained.

The National Investigation Bureau, a police unit, also sent a note 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 detained, he would 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 could be carried out, but said next week could be decisive for the political crisis, as the first impeachment hearing against Yoon will take place on Tuesday.

“It is not clear whether it will be presented to the constitutional court; has suggested that perhaps not due to certain legal issues that remain unresolved,” Fok said. “And that’s going to complicate this whole process if he doesn’t appear in court.”

Fok said the atmosphere at Saturday’s protests remained festive and peaceful.

“These could be some of the largest protests we have seen since this political saga unfolded; some reports suggest there are up to half a million people on the streets of Seoul,” he said.

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

Student and anti-Yoon protester Kim Min-ji, 25, told AFP news agency that the police and the Corruption Investigation Office (CIO) have not acted decisively.

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

Su Yo-hahn, 71, a Yoon supporter, said the current president’s declaration of martial law, which he said was intended to eradicate 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,” Su said.

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