Reuters
Supporters of Yoon Suk Yeol clashed with police trying to arrest the president
Tears, cries of dismay and shocked faces: this was the reaction of supporters of suspended South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol outside his home upon learning of his arrest.
It was a moment weeks in the making – ever since Yoon’s last attempt to arrest him, on January 3, failed after a dramatic standoff.
Yet when news of his arrest arrived Wednesday morning, it seemed to create even more uncertainty — and highlight division in a country already deeply polarized by Yoon’s short-lived martial law order and his removal by the Parliament.
“This country is in crisis,” said one pro-Yoon woman, tears streaming down her face. “I have been praying since last night for a stable and peaceful South Korea.”
That’s what both sides say they want, but they can’t agree on how to get there.
For the past month, Yoon, a rebellious 64-year-old, has holed up in his presidential compound in central Seoul, while his supporters and detractors gathered outside. They have made Yongsan, in central Seoul, an epicenter of protests, where tensions are often high.
Hundreds of them had camped overnight on Tuesday, as arrest seemed imminent, in temperatures that dropped to -8°C. The only thing they shared was the food trucks that kept them warm with steaming drinks and instant noodles.
Reuters
Yoon Suk Yeol delivers speech to declare martial law on December 3, 2024
Yoon’s supporters pushed past police officers – numbering 3,000 – who gathered to take him into custody. “Don’t call us stupid far-right,” one protester shouted, reflecting the frustration of Yoon’s camp.
A completely different scene unfolded across the street. Yoon’s opponents, who had long called for his arrest, celebrated with chants and cheers.
Their jubilation only further angered the pro-Yoon camp, with some shouting: “Don’t taunt us, it’s not funny.”
The Gulf is not limited to this corner of Yongsan. It has been hovering over the entire country for more than a month.
Yoon’s shock announcement of martial law on December 3 almost instantly divided public opinion into two camps.
While some believed his claims that the country was under threat, a broader group saw the move as an opportunistic abuse of power. This sentiment was reflected even within Yoon’s own party, as several of its lawmakers voted to impeach him.
Growing opposition to Yoon’s actions has cast a pall over the nation.
The end-of-year season in South Korea is usually bustling. But this year has been noticeably different. Political unrest – as well as the devastating Jeju Air crash on December 29 – have created a subdued and gloomy atmosphere.
Yoon himself had largely avoided appearing publicly since he was impeached by Parliament in mid-December.
He never left his residence to meet his supporters. On New Year’s Day, he sent them a note saying he was “watching them closely via a YouTube live stream.” He skipped the first hearing in his impeachment trial on January 14, delaying the proceedings.
Previously, he had refused to comply with several summonses as part of the criminal investigation into insurrection, which led to the issuance of an arrest warrant.
Reuters
Protesters call for Yoon’s impeachment
On Wednesday, he released a video statement saying he would cooperate with the Corruption Investigation Office (CIO) to avoid “bloodshed,” while saying their arrest warrant was not legally valid.
It was a massive operation, following a warning from the IOC that the presidential security team could also be arrested if it tried to block Yoon’s arrest again. Unlike last time, the IOC and the police managed to arrest Yoon, although it took hours to negotiate.
Once he left the presidential compound, the streets around him began to empty. The demonstrators dispersed and the police barricades were removed.
Some of Yoon’s supporters went to the IOC office where he is being questioned. They need another warrant to hold him for more than 48 hours.
While Yoon’s arrest ended the security standoff, it did not end the divide that exists far beyond in South Korea, which in recent decades has become a leading global economy and a beacon of democracy in Asia.
“Arresting the country’s leader doesn’t even make sense,” said a protester outside the presidential compound.
An opposing voice replied: “Executing the arrest warrant is a necessary step – Yoon tried to undermine the country’s democracy.”
Reuters
Police and investigators leave the presidential residence with Yoon on Wednesday morning
Yoon himself continues to question whether the IOC has the right to arrest him – his lawyers say no, because insurrection is not an accusation of corruption. But the IOC says the insurrection is a form of abuse of power – an accusation that falls within its jurisdiction to investigate.
What may seem like a legal debate has morphed deeply into political territory, with both sides seeking to control the narrative.
The rapid removal of Yoon’s immediate successor, Prime Minister Han Duck-soo, has already given rise to allegations that the impeachment is being used as a political tool against Yoon’s allies. And Yoon’s impeachment trial beginning this week has created even more uncertainty.
Public attention will focus on Yoon’s possible statements during his detention or trial.
The fear is that whatever happens next for Yoon, the polarization that now defines South Korean politics is here to stay.
Watch: BBC correspondent reports from groups of protesters in Seoul
