Supporters of President Yoon Suk-yeol are holding a rally late into the night on the 2nd near the official residence in Hannam-dong, Yongsan-gu, stating their intention to prevent the Corruption Investigation Office for High-ranking Officials (CIO) from executing an arrest warrant against President Yoon. They are confronting the police, expressing their intention to move to the front gate where protests are prohibited to prevent CIO officials from approaching.
The "New Liberty Alliance," a conservative organization, held a pro-President Yoon rally on Hannam-daero near the official residence on this day. By unofficial police estimates, 13,000 people occupied six right lanes and the sidewalk of Hannam-daero, chanting "Protect Yoon Suk-yeol" and "Arrest Lee Jae-myung (the leader of the Democratic Party)." The rally host also claimed, "The Muan International Airport disaster is due to Kim Dae-jung (former president)," adding, "We must protect the nation."
The rally, which began in the morning, is continuing until 10 p.m. Participants are waving red light sticks and have announced an all-night rally, saying, "We don't know when the CIO might come." Some of the protesters are chanting "Open the way" and "Nullify the impeachment" in front of the police blocking their path from the International Lutheran Church towards the residence. The police are advising, "Please remain calm and step back; there are concerns about the safety of the elderly participants."
On this day, two supporters of President Yoon broke through the police barricade and entered the restricted area in front of the residence in a surprise action but were arrested on site by police after disobeying dispersal orders. Approximately 60 supporters occupied about 15 meters of one lane in front of the residence from 12:20 p.m. that day, and when ordered to disperse, they resisted by lying on the road. After five dispersal orders, the police began forcibly dispersing the crowd at 4:40 p.m., taking about 10 minutes to do so by having four officers carry each protester away.
Over 10,000 supporters of President Yoon and ordinary citizens attending the rally were only able to use one pedestrian overpass to reach Hangangjin Station on Subway Line 6. At one point, the line to ascend the stairs of the overpass stretched over 600 meters, and it could take up to an hour to get onto the overpass. The police were shouting, "Please move slowly in a single line," to guide people. A supporter of President Yoon, Mr. Kim (67), said, "It's scary because it feels like the overpass might collapse with so many people." Another individual, Mr. Jeong (35), stated, "Standing in the center of the overpass, it seems to sway about 3 centimeters up and down."
Across from Hannam-daero near Exit 2 of Hangangjin Station, a rally organized by the "Emergency Action for Yoon Suk-yeol's Resignation and Social Reform" took place from 7 p.m. on this day. Approximately 1,000 participants (unofficial police estimate) held cheering sticks, chanting slogans like "Arrest Yoon Suk-yeol." After marching around Hannam-dong, they disbanded at around 9 p.m.
The "opposition to arrest" and "immediate arrest" rallies are expected to continue until the validity period of the arrest warrant, which is until the 6th. The Korean Confederation of Trade Unions (KCTU) plans to hold a "two-day, one-night intensive struggle" near the official residence in Hannam-dong from 3 p.m. on the 3rd until the night of the 4th. The "Emergency Action for Yoon Suk-yeol's Immediate Resignation and Social Reform" (Emergency Action) is composed of the KCTU, the Federation of Korean Trade Unions, People's Solidarity for Participatory Democracy, Korea Progressive Alliance, and will continue to hold rallies at a similar location on the 5th and 6th.
The "Korea Movement to Set the Nation Right Coalition" (KMCM), led by Pastor Jeon Kwang-hoon of Sarang Jeil Church and the Liberty Unification Party, claimed, "The CIO does not have the authority to investigate treason. The cooperative investigation body should stop the unjust measure of requesting an arrest warrant for a sitting president," adding, "We will firmly resist." They urged their members to gather in front of the residence by 6 a.m. on the 3rd.