Seoul: South Korea’s impeached President Yoon Suk Yeol has vowed to “fight till the end” as he faces an unprecedented attempt by authorities to arrest him over his brief declaration of martial law on December 3. In a letter addressed to his supporters, Yoon rallied his base while under investigation for alleged insurrection.
“I am watching on YouTube live all the hard work you are doing,” Yoon wrote late Wednesday to the hundreds of supporters gathered near his official residence protesting the investigation. “I will fight till the end to protect this country together with you,” he added. A photograph of the letter was shared with Reuters by Seok Dong-hyeon, a lawyer advising Yoon.
Opposition Response
The opposition Democratic Party, which controls the majority in parliament and spearheaded Yoon’s impeachment on December 14, criticized his statement, describing it as delusional.
“As if trying to stage insurrection wasn’t enough, he is now inciting his supporters to an extreme clash,” party spokesman Jo Seoung-lae said in a statement.
Arrest Warrant Approved
On Tuesday, a court approved a warrant for Yoon’s arrest, marking a historic moment as he could become the first sitting South Korean president to be detained during a criminal investigation. The warrant was issued following allegations that Yoon orchestrated insurrection through his declaration of martial law.
Under South Korean law, sitting presidents are generally immune from prosecution, except for charges of insurrection.
The Corruption Investigation Office for High-ranking Officials (CIO), leading a joint investigative team with police and prosecutors, has until January 6 to execute the warrant. However, it remains unclear how or when the arrest will be carried out, as Yoon’s presidential security service has previously blocked investigators with a search warrant from accessing his office and residence.
Impeachment Trial Ongoing
Yoon’s impeachment trial is being heard at the Constitutional Court, which will hold its second hearing on Friday. During the trial, Yoon remains suspended from his duties, with Finance Minister Choi Sang-mok serving as acting president.
If the Constitutional Court upholds the impeachment, Yoon will be removed from office, triggering a new presidential election within 60 days.
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Yoon Kab-keun, a lawyer representing the impeached president, argued that the arrest warrant is illegal, asserting that the CIO lacks the authority under South Korean law to request it.
Military Involvement
The warrant for Yoon’s arrest was issued after he defied multiple summons to appear for questioning in the criminal investigation, which is separate from the Constitutional Court trial.
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In a related development, a former defense minister accused of recommending Yoon declare martial law has been indicted on insurrection charges and is set to go on trial on January 16. Additionally, several top military officers involved in the defense of Seoul have been indicted for their alleged roles in the martial law incident.
