Tension is escalating in front of the president's residence in Hannam-dong as the court issued an arrest warrant for President Yoon Suk-yeol on rebellion charges for the Dec. 3 martial law declaration incident on the 31st. Pro-impeachment and anti-impeachment protesters are exchanging heated words across the narrow street near the residence. The Corruption Investigation Office for High-ranking Officials (CIO) is increasing police presence to prepare for possible physical clashes during the execution of the arrest warrant for President Yoon.
According to police on the 31st, as of 10:30 a.m., anti-impeachment protesters are on the north side and pro-impeachment protesters are on the south side of a 5-meter wide road near President Yoon's residence in Hannam-dong. The anti-impeachment protesters, numbering around 300, are holding placards saying "Lee Jae-myung, chief instigator of rebellion" and others. The pro-impeachment group, about 30 people, are holding placards reading "Arrest Yoon Suk-yeol" and "Reject Yoon Suk-yeol." YouTubers have also gathered at the scene, with four supporting President Yoon and twelve urging impeachment.
Anti-impeachment protesters sang the national anthem and shouted "Long live the Republic of Korea" and "Hallelujah." They yelled at pro-impeachment protesters to "go to the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (North Korea)." When someone said, "Say, Kim Jong-un, you b***h," the pro-impeachment camp actually repeated, "Kim Jong-un, you b***h." When the pro-impeachment group said, "Those reds," the anti-impeachment side responded, "You're the reds." Both sides are hurling harsh words, with the anti-impeachment group exclaiming, "Yoon Suk-yeol, you b***h."
The CIO is expected to head to President Yoon's residence in Hannam-dong, Yongsan District, to execute the arrest warrant soon. The warrant is valid for a week from the date of issuance. However, as President Yoon is the sitting president, guarded by the Presidential Security Service, there is a possibility of physical clashes during the warrant execution.
There is also a possibility that the arrest warrant might not be executed due to strong protests from President Yoon's supporters. Previously, the execution of warrants against figures like former Democratic Party leader Han Hwa-gap and former Liberty Democratic Union member Lee In-je also failed due to party member obstruction, resulting in non-custodial prosecutions.
The group calling for President Yoon's immediate resignation and comprehensive social reform, "Emergency Action for Yoon Suk-yeol's Immediate Resignation and Social Reform," stated in a position paper released the same day that "if the Presidential Security Service blocks the execution of the (arrest) warrant, they should be arrested on the spot for violating special obstruction of official duty." They also claimed, "Acting President and Vice Minister of Strategy and Finance Choi Sang-mok should clearly instruct the Security Service to comply with the arrest warrant execution."
Conservative groups are scheduled to hold rallies in front of the residence today. The Free Korea United will hold a "Presidential Support Rally" with 2,000 participants on the sidewalk in front of Hannam-dong Lutheran Church from 1 p.m., and the New Liberty Solidarity will hold a "Presidential Defense Rally" with 500 participants in a similar location from 2 p.m. The progressive group "Hell Joseon Reform National Promotion Committee" will also hold a "Call for Presidential Resignation" rally with 15 participants in a nearby area from 9 a.m.