South Korea’s impeached President Yoon resists arrest over martial law bid
Impeached South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol has defiantly refused to surrender to authorities for a third consecutive day, remaining inside his presidential residence amidst growing tension and protests. Yoon, facing charges of insurrection, imprisonment, or potentially the death penalty, has vowed to resist arrest and “fight” what he calls threats to the nation’s sovereignty.
The turmoil began on December 3, when Yoon issued a failed martial law declaration, leading to his impeachment and subsequent arrest warrant. Armed troops briefly took over the national assembly before lawmakers swiftly overturned the move, stripping Yoon of his presidential powers.
READ ALSO: US Speaker Kevin McCarthy impeached
Since then, hundreds of his supporters and detractors have gathered outside the presidential compound in a tense standoff. Attempts by the Corruption Investigation Office (CIO) to execute a search warrant have been thwarted by Yoon’s security team, citing South Korea’s Criminal Procedure Act, which protects locations containing official secrets from searches without consent.
Yoon, unrepentant, issued a fiery statement through his lawyer, Yoon Kab-keun, declaring, “The Republic of Korea is in danger due to internal and external forces threatening its sovereignty. I vow to fight alongside you to the very end.” He also accused opposition forces of aligning with South Korea’s communist enemies.
Opposition lawmakers criticised his rhetoric as inflammatory. Democratic Party spokesperson Jo Seoung-lae called Yoon “delusional” and accused him of inciting clashes. The CIO warned that any attempts to block Yoon’s arrest could lead to prosecution.
Yoon’s legal team has sought an injunction to block the arrest warrant, describing it as “unlawful and invalid.” Meanwhile, the constitutional court is set to rule on his impeachment.
In the background, discussions between prosecutors and police continue on how to proceed with his arrest, as the warrant is valid only until January 6. The last time South Korea faced such a dramatic standoff over an arrest warrant was in 2004, when police were blocked from detaining a lawmaker.
The political chaos deepened last week when Yoon’s replacement, Han Duck-soo, was also impeached by parliament for failing to approve investigations into his predecessor. Finance Minister Choi Sang-mok has taken over as acting president, pledging to restore stability.
In an attempt to address opposition demands, Choi has nominated two new judges to the constitutional court. However, Yoon’s supporters criticised the move as an overreach of his temporary powers.
With the arrest warrant deadline approaching, South Korea remains on edge, grappling with one of its most dramatic political crises in recent history. Whether Yoon Suk Yeol faces justice or prolongs his defiance will shape the country’s political and legal landscape for years to come.
Follow the Neptune Prime channel on WhatsApp: https://whatsapp.com/channel/0029Va74ZvU2v1IqKByXoX3d
Do you have breaking news, interview request, opinion, suggestion, or want your event covered? Email us at neptuneprime2233@gmail.com
