SEOUL. Thousands of demonstrators braved freezing temperatures and heavy snow in Seoul on Sunday to rally for and against the arrest of impeached President Yoon Suk Yeol. The political crisis surrounding South Korea’s embattled leader has escalated into another high-stakes confrontation, as an arrest warrant against him for alleged insurrection is set to expire at midnight Monday (1500 GMT).
Multiple groups gathered near Yoon’s official residence, with protesters divided on the issue. Some called for his immediate arrest, while others opposed the move. Yoon is the first sitting president in South Korea’s history to face arrest, following his controversial attempt to declare martial law on Dec. 3. The failed move plunged the nation into political chaos, shaking Asia’s fourth-largest economy and a key U.S. ally.
The conservative president was impeached by parliament and is currently suspended from official duties as the Constitutional Court deliberates on whether to reinstate or remove him. On Friday, efforts by criminal investigators to arrest Yoon were thwarted by his presidential security service and military forces in a dramatic six-hour standoff.
Despite the cold weather, some protesters camped out overnight in downtown Seoul, where temperatures dipped below -5°C (23°F), and more than 5 cm (2 inches) of snow blanketed parts of the capital under a heavy snow warning.
“We have to reestablish the foundation of our society by punishing the president who has denied the constitution,” said Yang Kyung-soo, leader of the Korean Confederation of Trade Unions (KCTU), one of the major labor groups leading the protests. He added, “We must bring down the criminal Yoon Suk Yeol and arrest and detain him as soon as possible.”
Nearby, Yoon supporters held counter-demonstrations, displaying placards that read, “We will fight for President Yoon Suk Yeol” and “Stop the Steal,” a phrase popularized by U.S. President-elect Donald Trump’s supporters after the 2016 election.
Saturday’s rallies saw tens of thousands of protesters in the streets, prompting police to intervene as KCTU demonstrators occupied roads and disrupted traffic. Yonhap News Agency reported that two individuals were detained for allegedly assaulting police officers.
The Corruption Investigation Office for High-Ranking Officials, spearheading the criminal investigation into Yoon, renewed its call on Saturday for acting President Choi Sang-mok, the finance minister, to direct the presidential security service to comply with the arrest warrant. However, the finance ministry has yet to comment on the matter.
As the clock ticks toward the expiration of the arrest warrant, South Korea remains deeply divided, with the nation’s political crisis showing no signs of abating.
Si Venus L Peñaflor ay naging editor-in-chief ng Newsworld, isang lokal na pahayagan ng Laguna. Publisher din siya ng Daystar Gazette at Tutubi News Magazine. Siya ay isa ring pintor at doll face designer ng Ninay Dolls, ang unang Manikang Pilipino. Kasali siya sa DesignCrowd sa rank na #305 sa 640,000 graphic designers sa buong daigdig. Kasama din siya sa unang Local TV Broadcast sa Laguna na Beyond Manila. Aktibong kasapi siya ng San Pablo Jaycees Senate bilang isang JCI Senator.
