Impeached South Korean president issues message of defiance as he faces possible detention

SEOUL, South Korea — Impeached South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeolin a message to conservative supporters gathered outside his residence in Seoul, vowed to “fight to the end” against “anti-state forces,” while his legal team warned Thursday that police try to detain him could be arrested by his presidential security service or even by civilians.

Yoon’s latest statement of defiance comes as the Senior Officials Corruption Investigation Bureau prepares to execute a detention warrant against him that was issued Tuesday by a Seoul court and is valid for one week. The warrant was issued after Yoon evaded several requests to appear for questioning and blocked searches of his office, hindering an investigation into whether the imposition of martial law for several hours on December 3 amounted to rebellion.

Oh Dong-woon, the anti-graft agency’s chief prosecutor, said police forces could be deployed if Yoon’s security resists the attempted arrest, which could take place as early as Thursday. But it remains unclear whether Yoon can be forced to submit to interrogation.

Yoon’s legal team issued a statement on Thursday warning that any attempt by the anti-graft agency to use police units for his detention would exceed their legal authority. The lawyers said the officers could be arrested either by the “presidential security services or by any citizen” if they tried to arrest Yoon. They did not provide further details on this claim.

South Korean law allows anyone to make an arrest to stop an active crime, and critics have accused Yoon of inciting his supporters to obstruct attempts to arrest him.

In a message to his supporters gathered outside his residence Wednesday evening, Yoon said he would continue to fight against anti-state forces “violating our sovereignty” and putting the nation in “danger.” He applauded his supporters for their efforts to protect “liberal democracy and constitutional order” and said he was watching their protests live on YouTube, according to a photo of the message shared by Yoon’s lawyers.

Yoon Kap-keun, the president’s lawyer, filed an appeal with the Seoul Western District Court on Thursday to block both the detention warrant for Yoon Suk Yeol and a related search warrant for his residence. The lawyer argued that both warrants violated criminal laws and the constitution.

The liberal opposition Democratic Party, which led the legislative vote that indicted Yoon Suk Yeol on December 14 following the imposition of martial law, accused the president of trying to mobilize his supporters to block his detention and called on law enforcement authorities to immediately carry out the warrant.

Braving freezing temperatures, thousands of Yoon’s supporters gathered for hours Thursday near his residence amid a heavy police presence, waving South Korean and U.S. flags while chanting, “Cancel the impeachment!” and “We will protect President Yoon Suk Yeol!” Police removed some protesters who had been lying on a road leading to the entrance to Yoon’s residence, but there were no immediate reports of any major clashes.

“The Corruption Investigation Bureau must arrest him immediately and the presidential security services must cooperate in the lawful execution of the arrest warrant,” Democratic Party leader Park Chan-dae said.

“They must be aware that obstructing the execution of the arrest warrant could result in sanctions for interference with the exercise of their official duties and complicity in the rebellion,” he said.

Yoon’s lawyers argued the court’s arrest warrant was invalid, saying the anti-graft agency lacked legal authority to investigate the rebellion charges. They also accuse the court of circumventing a law that states that places potentially linked to military secrets cannot be seized or searched without the consent of the person responsible.

Some experts say the anti-corruption agency, which is conducting a joint investigation with police and military authorities, would not risk coming into conflict with Yoon’s security services, which have said they will ensure Yoon’s safety in accordance with the law. The office may instead issue another summons for Yoon to appear for questioning if he is unable to execute the detention warrant by January 6.

If Yoon is arrested, the anti-corruption agency will have 48 hours to investigate him and either seek a formal arrest warrant for him or release him. Yoon’s defense minister, police chief and several top military commanders have already been arrested for their roles in enacting martial law.

Yoon’s presidential powers were suspended following a National Assembly vote to impeach him on December 14 following the imposition of martial law, which lasted only hours but triggered weeks of political unrest, halted high-level diplomacy and shook financial markets. Yoon’s fate now rests in the hands of the Constitutional Court, which has begun deliberations on whether to uphold the indictment and formally remove Yoon from office or reinstate him.

To officially end Yoon’s presidency, at least six judges of the nine-member Constitutional Court must vote in favor.

The National Assembly also voted last week to remove Prime Minister Han Duck-soo, who became interim president after Yoon’s suspension of power, over his reluctance to fill three vacancies on the Constitutional Court before the review of Yoon’s case by the Court.

Facing growing pressure, the new interim president, Vice Prime Minister Choi Sang-mok, appointed two new judges on Tuesday, which could increase the court’s chances of upholding Yoon’s impeachment.

Cho Han-chang, one of the newly appointed judges, said Thursday that he began his work with “a heavy heart.” Jeong Gye-seon, the other new judge, expressed hope that the remaining vacancy would be filled.

Yoon’s imposition of martial law ended after just six hours when the National Assembly voted 190-0 to lift it, despite attempts by heavily armed soldiers to prevent them from voting.

Yoon defended his martial law decree as a necessary act of governance, describing it as a temporary warning against the Democratic Party, which he described as an “anti-state” force obstructing his agenda with its legislative majority.