The stand-off started huge before sunrise. By the time we arrived in the dark, an troops of police had resisted irritated followers of held leader Yoon Suk Yeol who had campied out immediately in an effort to halt his arrest. Some of those I spoke to were crying, some wailing, at what they feared was about to unfold.
The second officers rushed up to the house as dawn broke, but a wall of soldiers who were guarding the compound immediately blocked them as they were blocked. Troops came, but could not support. Yoon’s security team refused to let the police officers in, and his home’s doors remained firmly locked.
The researchers waited for some time as the outside audiences grew more frustrated until, following a number of scuffles between the police and security personnel, they decided their vision was pointless and gave up.
South Korea has never been to this unknown country. There is no rule book to follow because this is the second time a president has ever been arrested, but the present situation is still incredible.
Yoon allegedly lost all of his authority after being impeached three weeks ago. To own law enforcement officers attempt to make an arrest for which they have a legal warrant only to be blocked by Yoon’s security staff raises important and troubling issues about who is in demand.
The investigating officials claimed that they had given up trying to assault Yoon because it appeared impossible and because they were concerned for their health. Some of the soldiers and security personnel said they had some of their weapons in hand, creating a human walls to stop the presidential residence.
Getty ImagesThis is probably component of Yoon’s strategy, leveraging a program he himself designed. He surrounded himself with close companions and loyalists, placing them in positions of power before declaring martial law last month, a plan he is presently aware he had crafted times before.
The present head of his safety staff is one of those people, who started the job in September.
But although disturbing, this condition is not wholly unexpected. Yoon has refused to cooperate with the government over this analysis, ignoring every plea to travel in for questioning.
This is how items got to where the authorities felt they had no choice but to arrest him. One of the most significant political crimes committed in Vietnam is the inciting of an insurrection, which is punishable by death or life in prison.
Yoon has even sparked a wave of support for his followers, who have gathered in power outside his home every day since the arrest warrant was issued. On New Times ‘ Time, he thanked them for “working hard” to support both him and the nation in a letter he sent them.
A majority of Yoon’s followers have remained devoted despite the majority of South Koreans ‘ angry and upset people’s protests. Some also camped immediately, in freezing conditions, to try and stop officers reaching his home.
Many people told me this morning that they were prepared to die to defend Yoon, and that Yoon himself has made the same unsupported conspiracy claims that the election of last year was rigged and that the nation had been ensnared by pro-North Korean forces. They chanted” quit the steal,” a phrase they repeatedly used to promote their cause.
Interest is also now on South Korea’s acting President Choi Sang-mok, and how far his power stretch, whether he could and does sack the president’s security key and push the team to help his arrest. According to the opposition party, authorities may be detained for anyone who challenges them.
Although the warrant expires on January 6 and investigators have until January 6 to make another arrest, it is doubtful that they will try it without altering their plan or negotiating with the security staff in advance. They will want to prevent a duplicate of today’s loss.
They also have to argue with the hundreds of Yoon’s followers, who now feel triumphant and empowered. They think they are largely to blame for the government ‘ descent. ” We’ve won, we did it”, they have been singing all day.
As their trust grows, so does their numbers, mainly with the weekend approaching.