Yoon Suk Yeol’s arrest fuels divisions in South Korea

When Yoon Suk Yeol’s supporters heard that he had been arrested, they reacted with tears, disappointed cries, and surprised faces.

It was a moment that had been in the making for weeks – ever since the last attempt to arrest Yoon on 3 January had failed after a dramatic standoff.

However, when the information of his arrest on Wednesday morning arrived, it just appeared to add more uncertainty and highlight the country’s now deeply divided by Yoon’s short-lived military law order and parliament’s impeachment.

” This land is in crisis”, said one pro-Yoon person, tears streaming down her face. ” I’ve been praying for a secure and peaceful South Korea since last night.”

Both parties claim that they want it, but they are unable to believe on a path it.

A rebellious 64-year-old Yoon was huddled up inside his political element in central Seoul for the past month as his supporters and critics gathered outside. They had made Yongsan in central Seoul an centre of opposition, with tensions frequently high in the air.

As the imprisonment appeared to be inevitable, thousands of them had camped out immediately in -8C by the time it reached midnight on Tuesday. The only thing they shared was the instant noodles and steaming beverage vehicles that kept them comfortable.

Yoon’s supporters jostled with the officers officers- number 3, 000 – who assembled to get him into guardianship. ” Don’t call us stupid far-rights”, one protester shouted, reflecting the frustration in the Yoon camp.

On the other side of the city, a completely new scene took place. Critics of Yoon, who had long called for his imprisonment, celebrated with slogans and applause.

Their joy just made the pro-Yoon camp louder, with some crying:” Don’t mock us- this is not funny”.

This region of Yongsan does no belong to the sea. It has covered the entire nation for more than a quarter.

Yoon’s unexpected declaration of martial law on December 3 about immediately divided the government into two camps.

While some people believed his promises that the nation was in danger, a larger team saw the action as an unscrupulous abuse of power. Many members of Yoon’s personal group cast ballots to remove him, reflecting this attitude.

The region has become a pale over the result of Yoon’s growing opposition to his actions.

The year-end season in South Korea is usually vibrant. But this year has been noticeably different. The political turmoil – along with the devastating Jeju Air crash on 29 December – has created a subdued and sombre atmosphere.

Since being impeached by congress in the middle of December, Yoon himself had mostly avoided the people.

He never left his home to satisfy his supporters. On New Year’s Day, he sent them a note, saying he was” closely watching]them ] via a YouTube livestream”. He skipped the first reading of his prosecution trial on 14 January, delaying the proceedings.

Prior to that, he had refused to comply with numerous subpoenas as part of the fugitive investigation into rebellion costs, which resulted in the arrest warrant.

On Wednesday, he released a video statement saying he would co-operate with the Corruption Investigation Office ( CIO ) to avoid “bloodshed”, while claiming their arrest warrant was not legally valid.

The CIO had a warning that the national security team could also be detained if they attempted to obstruct Yoon’s arrest once more, so it was a massive operation. Although it still required hours to communicate, the CIO and authorities were successful in detaining Yoon, as opposed to previous time.

When he left the political element, the roads surrounding it began to clear. The officers walls were removed, and activists dispersed, and the officers barricades were removed.

Some of Yoon’s followers moved to the CIO company where he is being questioned. He needs another permit before they can prosecute him for more than 48 days.

Yoon’s imprisonment has ended the safety split, but it has not completely resolved it in South Korea, which has recently emerged as a leading global market and beacon of democracy in Asia.

” Arresting the country’s president does not even make feel”, declared one rebel outside the presidential compound.

An opposing message countered:” Executing the arrest permit is a required step- Yoon attempted to destroy the country’s democracy”.

Yoon himself continues to question whether the CIO has the authority to detain him. His attorneys argue against this because insurrection is not a crime of problem. However, the CIO claims that the rebellion is a form of electricity abuse, which they are responsible to look into.

What might seem like a legitimate argument has descended deeply into social territory, with both sides attempting to dictate the narrative.

The immediate replacement for Yoon’s fast leader, Han Duck-soo, is already the target of accusations that impeachment is being used as a social device against Yoon’s friends. Additionally, Yoon’s impeachment trial is kicking off this year, which has added doubt.

Public interest will be on what statements, if any, Yoon makes while he is detained or under trial.

The fear is that whatever comes next for Yoon, the conflict that has come to identify North Korean politics, will continue to exist.