The South Korean president, defiant in the face of possible arrest

SEOUL, South Korea — Indicted South Korean President Yoon Suk YeolIn a message to his conservative supporters gathered outside his residence in Seoul, he vowed to “fight to the end” against “anti-state forces,” while his legal team warned Thursday that police officers who tried to detain him could face the arrest of his presidential security service. or even civilians.

Yoon’s latest statement of defiance came as the Corruption Investigation Bureau for Senior Officials prepared to execute a detention order against him that was issued by a Seoul court on Tuesday and is valid for one week. The order was issued after Yoon evaded multiple requests to appear for questioning and blocked his office records, hampering an investigation into whether his imposition of martial law, which lasted several hours on Dec. 3, amounted to rebellion.

Oh Dong-woon, chief prosecutor of the anti-graft agency, has indicated that police forces could be deployed if Yoon’s security service resists the attempted arrest, which could happen as early as Thursday. But it is still unclear whether Yoon can be forced to undergo interrogation.

Yoon’s legal team issued a statement Thursday warning that any attempt by the anti-graft agency to use police units to detain him would exceed its legal authority. Lawyers said police officers could face arrest by the “presidential security service or any citizen” if they try to detain Yoon. They did not provide further details about the claim.

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

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

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

The liberal opposition Democratic Party, which pushed for the legislative vote that ousted Yoon Suk Yeol on December 14 for his imposition of martial law, accused the president of trying to mobilize his supporters to block his arrest and called on police authorities to execute the order. immediately.

Braving sub-zero temperatures, thousands of Yoon’s supporters rallied for hours near his residence on Thursday amid a heavy police presence, waving South Korean and American flags as they chanted, “Annul the impeachment!” and “We will protect President Yoon Suk Yeol!” Officers removed some protesters who were lying on a road leading to the entrance to Yoon’s residence, but there were no immediate reports of major clashes.

“The Corruption Investigation Bureau should immediately detain him and the presidential security service should cooperate with the lawful execution of the arrest warrant,” said Park Chan-dae, House Leader of the Democrats.

“They should be aware that obstructing the execution of the detention order could result in punishment for interference with official duties and complicity in rebellion,” he said.

Yoon’s lawyers have argued that the court’s detention order is invalid, claiming that the anti-graft agency lacks legal authority to investigate rebellion charges. They also accuse the court of circumventing a law that says places potentially linked to military secrets cannot be seized or searched without the consent of the person in charge.

Some experts believe the anti-graft agency, which is leading a joint investigation with police and military authorities, would not risk clashing with Yoon’s security service, which has said it will protect Yoon in accordance with the law. Instead, the office may issue another subpoena for Yoon to appear for questioning if they cannot execute the detention order by Jan. 6.

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

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

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

The National Assembly voted last week to also impeach Prime Minister Han Duck-soo, who became acting president after Yoon’s powers were suspended, over his reluctance to fill three vacancies on the Constitutional Court before the review of the Constitutional Court. Yoon’s case by the court.

Facing mounting pressure, the new acting president, Vice Premier Choi Sang-mok, appointed two new judges on Tuesday, possibly increasing the court’s chances of confirming 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 will 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 has defended his martial law decree as a necessary act of government, presenting it as a temporary warning against the Democratic Party, which he has described as an “anti-state” force obstructing his agenda with its legislative majority.

Tong-Hyung writes for the Associated Press.