Thousands of South Koreans began gathering in the capital for rival demonstrations on Saturday, as investigators prepare another attempt to arrest suspended President Yoon Suk Yeol over his short-lived martial law decree.
Yoon resisted arrest in a standoff between his guards and investigators last week after his failed December 3 power grab plunged South Korea into its worst political crisis in decades.
Protesters both for and against Yoon were scheduled to gather in sub-zero conditions along major roads in the centre of Seoul on Saturday -- either demanding his arrest or calling for his impeachment to be declared invalid.
The country has bristled with tension for weeks after Yoon directed soldiers to storm parliament, where they unsuccessfully tried to prevent lawmakers from voting down martial law. Since being impeached, Yoon has battened down the hatches.
"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.
"It is crucial for us to raise our voices until he is removed from office."
Yoon supporter Su Yo-hahn, 71, said the sitting president's martial law declaration which he alleged was to root out anti-state forces had "valid reasons".
"He is someone who was elected by the people and represents our country. Saving Yoon is the way to save our nation," said Su.
Yoon's supporters were already rallying outside his residence early Saturday before a major demonstration set for 1 pm (0400 GMT) in central Seoul. Separate anti-Yoon rallies were planned for 2:30 p.m. and 4 p.m.
Yoon faces criminal charges of insurrection, one of a few crimes not subject to presidential immunity, meaning he could be sentenced to prison or even the death penalty.
If the warrant is executed, Yoon would become the first sitting South Korean president to be arrested.
His presidential security chief resigned Friday as he faced questioning over why his guards blocked Yoon's arrest on a day of high drama that forced investigators to climb down over safety fears.
The presidential security service guards including military troops shielded him from investigators in a six-hour standoff.
Park was again being questioned on Saturday while acting PSS chief Kim Seong-hun refused to turn up to a third summons, opening him up to possible arrest.
"Kim Seong-hun... cannot leave his post for even a moment regarding presidential security matters," the PSS said in a statement.
The CIO said it will "prepare thoroughly" for its second attempt to arrest Yoon and warned that anyone obstructing them could be detained.
The National Office of Investigation, a police unit, sent a note to high-ranking police officials in Seoul requesting they prepare to mobilize 1,000 investigators for the fresh attempt, Yonhap reported.
Meanwhile, Yoon's guards have reinforced his Seoul compound with barbed wire installations and bus barricades.
Separate from the insurrection probe, Yoon also faces ongoing impeachment proceedings. Lawmakers have already suspended him, but the Constitutional Court will decide whether to uphold this decision or restore him to office.
The court has slated January 14 for the start of Yoon's impeachment trial, which would proceed even in his absence.
Polls show approval ratings for Yoon's ruling party have been rising as the crisis drags on.
On Friday, opposition parties submitted a resolution demanding the expulsion of a ruling People Power Party lawmaker who arranged a press conference in parliament for a far-right youth group named the Anti-Communist Youth Corps.
Lawmaker Kim Min-jeon faced criticism for associating with the group, which has dubbed one of its units "Baekgoldan", the name of a highly controversial police unit that cracked down on democracy protesters in the 1980s and 1990s.
© 2025 AFP
19 Comments
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deanzaZZR
Yoon's Goons security squad has now set up barriers such as buses to block entrances and has installed barbed wire around the periphery. Yoon is playing with fire.
Agent_Neo
South Korea is the only country that boasts of being able to overthrow a president elected by direct elections through popular demonstrations.
Is it possible that Koreans have no understanding of democracy simply because they are using a system given to them by Japan and the United States?
It must be said that South Korea is different from countries in Europe and the United States that fought against monarchies, and from Japan and ASEAN countries that fought for independence from colonial rule.
Looking at Korean history, it is inevitable that one cannot understand the value or significance of something unless it was won at the expense of many sacrifices.
mountainpear
@Agent_Neo You seem confused!
Korea was under an authoritarian regime until 1987! In 1987, the June Uprising took place! It was a nationwide pro-democracy movement in South Korea that generated mass protests from June 10 to 29, 1987. The demonstrations forced the ruling government to hold direct presidential elections and institute other democratic reforms, which led to the establishment of the present-day government of the Republic of Korea.
u_s__reamer
There can only be one punishment that fits the crime of treason committed by a leader who betrays a country's constitution. Let's hope Yoon and his goons are brought to swift justice to demonstrate to the world the rule of law over that of the man.
kurisupisu
So, the laws of Korea don’t apply equally to all Koreans?
Good to know…
Five Families
This is just getting stupid here now. My whole trip to Seoul on my Bday ruined cause its everywhere and so easlily to get sucked in to the protesting crowds and stuck. As well photographed or interviewd and put on on Social Media or worse News.
Then fired cause it looks bad for yourself.
Like your taking a stand when you just want to enjoy the city and have a good time.
Its nuts. Korea is unstable like never before! Mental here. Japan sounds good right about now.
iknowall
History repeats itself.
Matt
It really in incredible the level of arrogance from these people. The 'divine right of kings' still exists in these maniacs minds.
WoodyLee
And the center of all this is a PERSON who could care less about S. Korea, It's future, and it's people.
ARRST HIM ASAP.
Ego Sum Lux Mundi
Yoon and his Praetorian goons are being propped up by the US.
Underworld
kurisupisu
Just like the USA.
Pukey2
It's very telling that this dictator's supporters are waving American flags. Talk about the obvious!
GBR48
Lots of elected politicians become dictators. When they reach that point, their electoral mandate is invalidated.
Set fire to Yoon's compound. They will all then emerge and can all be arrested.
If Yoon is not taken out of power, South Korea loses its democracy and returns to being a dictatorship.
The South Korean people may wish to go on strike. Bring the country to a halt until he is in custody.
Agent_Neo
If the US military had not entered the Korean War, South Korea would certainly have been under Chinese or North Korean rule.
The original South Korean constitution did not allow for dictatorial regimes.
However, it was rewritten by some politicians who held power, such as Syngman Rhee and Chun Doo-hwan.
A country that cannot protect its own independence, has produced dictators, and frequently violates the rights of its citizens cannot be considered the same as a country that has won democracy.
Incidentally, Chun Doo-hwan led a coup d'état after the assassination of President Park Chung-hee in 1979 and took control of the military. In 1980, he issued a state of emergency martial law, arresting and exiling influential politicians such as Kim Dae-jung. In the "Gwangju Uprising," he used force to suppress activists and students calling for democratization, massacring many of them.
President Yoon Seok-yeol has issued the first state of emergency martial law since then.
One more thing. The constitutional reform in South Korea has been based on the Weimar Constitution of Germany, the Bonn Basic Law, the Constitution of the French Republic, the Constitution of the United States of America, and the Constitution of Japan, and South Korea's modern history is also known as a "laboratory of comparative constitutional law." In other words, it is a rip-off.
theFu
Send in 1000+ local police without any weapons. If the loyalists harm any of them, we'll know he's a dictator in his own mind, not an elected leader. If this doesn't work, then
Tear gas the entire estate non-stop for the next 7 days until everyone leaves. As they leave, arrest them all for treason from the gate guard to the former President. Jail them all until their trials over the next 3 yrs for their part in this event.
Great Bird
Actually South Korea has "won" democracy. Unlike Japan, who got it donated by the US, South Koreans won it in 1987.
Violating the rights of citizens? You mean like Japan's elections, where some votes count 3 times as much as other votes?
Is it possible that Japanese have no understanding of democracy simply because they never fought for it themselves? Because they never voted for their constitution? Unlike Koreans. Just asking...
As for "protect its own independence", now in 2025 which country really can, without help by a major power? Souths Korea's military is stronger than Japan's (understandable since it has a direct land border with North Korea), but both would be in big trouble if China attacked and they got no help from the US.
Dictators, yes, before 87. Since then, they haven't had one and due to people's fight for democracy just managed to thwart an attempt at authoritarianism by Yoon. Pretty impressive.
Japanese people have a lot of catching up to do, if they want to develop an understanding and love of democracy like the South Koreans have.
Try to learn from South Koreans please!
kennyG
If you are to think SK a democratic nation ruled by law, you should not call these people Yoon's Goons.
They are protesting democratically just like those knee-jerk reacting ignoreant lefty mobs demanding his impeachment, As these polls show approval ratings for Yoon's ruling party has been rising as the crisis drags on, up to almost equal level to the oppposite.
deanzaZZR
The Yoon Goons are inside the presidential compound denying justice to the duly impeached former president of the republic.
Agent_Neo
What can we learn from Korea?
Of course, Korea is playing a great role as a negative example!!
In terms of Japanese history, Japan is the only country in Asia that initiated the Meiji Restoration, protected the independence of the country, and has continued to update its electoral system democratically many times since then.
The democratic Meiji Constitution already existed before the current constitution decided by the United States.
There is no comparison between Japan, which has fought for the survival of the country against great powers such as China, Russia, and the United States, and Korea, where half of the country is barely held together by the United States.
Is the Korean military stronger than Japan? Nice joke!
Not to mention the air and sea, the Korean army, which has tanks with gearboxes that don't even work properly, is no match for them lol
The only thing the Korean military can do is to have numbers rather than quality.
And even China, which is doing this on a large scale, cannot gain hegemony.