Thousands of South Koreans protest as president digs heels in

As investigators make yet another attempt to arrest suspended president Yoon Suk Yeol over his brief-lived martial law decree, thousands of South Koreans began gathering in the capital on Saturday ( Jan 11 ).

After his failed Dec. 3 power get plunged South Korea into its worst political crisis in decades, Yoon resisted imprisonment in a conflict between his soldiers and investigators last year.

On Saturday, protesters for and against Yoon were expected to accumulate along main roads in Seoul’s center, either requesting his arrest or requesting that his impeachment be overturned.

After Yoon directed troops to storm congress, where they repeatedly attempted to stop lawmakers from vetoing martial law, the state has racked up anxiety for weeks. Since being impeached, Yoon has battened down the vents.

” Despite our efforts, he continues to evade accountability, and both the police and the CIO ( Corruption Investigation Office ) have really failed to act decisively”, said anti-Yoon protester and student Kim Min-ji, 25.

” We must raise our voices until he is removed from office,” he said.

Yoon follower Su Yo-hahn, 71, said the sitting government’s martial law declaration which he alleged was to source out anti-state troops had “valid factors”.

He represents our nation and was elected by the electorate. Saving Yoon is the way to keep our society”, said Su.

Before a big demonstration scheduled for 1pm in key Seoul, Yoon’s supporters were already rallying outside his home early on Saturday. Individual anti-Yoon demonstrations were planned for 2.30pm and 4pm.

One of the few crimes that is not immune from the president’s prosecution, Yoon is facing criminal charges of rebellion, which could lead to jail or even the death penalty.

Yoon would become the first South Korean president to be detained while serving on the permit.

Park Chong-jun, his political stability chief, resigned on Friday as he was being quizzed about why his guards prevented Yoon’s arrest during a day of intense drama that required investigators to descend over safety concerns.

In a six-hour conflict, the national security service ( PSS) soldiers, including military personnel, protected him from researchers.

Park was detained once more on Saturday, but acting PSS main Kim Seong-hun turned down a second summons, putting him at risk of being detained.

” Kim Seong-hun… cannot leave his post for perhaps a second regarding national security things”, the PSS said in a statement.

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The CIO warned that everyone obstructing them may be detained and said it will “prepare completely” for its subsequent attempt to arrest Yoon.

The National Office of Investigation, a police system, sent a notice to high-ranking police officers in Seoul requesting they prepare to mobilise 1, 000 authorities for the new endeavor, Yonhap reported.

However, Yoon’s guards have reinforced his Seoul mixture with barbed wire deployments and vehicle barricades.

Separate from the rebellion sensor, Yoon also faces ongoing prosecution trials.

The Constitutional Court will decide whether to defend this ruling or recover him to office after he has already been suspended by the legislature.

The prosecutor has slated Jan 14 for the start of Yoon’s impeachment trial, which would continue also in his presence.

As the crisis drags on, Yoon’s ruling party’s approval ratings have been rising, according to surveys.

A judgement People Power Party lawmaker who held a press conference for a far-right youth group known as the Anti-Communist Youth Corps was ordered by opposition parties to be removed from office on Friday.

Lawmaker Kim Min-jeon received criticism for collaborating with the organization, which has given one of its modules the name” Baekgoldan,” a highly contentious police force that retaliated against demonstrators for democracy in the 1980s and 1990s.