About 1,150 supporters of President Yoon Suk-yeol are staging a protest near the president's residence in Hannam-dong, Yongsan District, Seoul, on the morning of the 3rd to prevent President Yoon's arrest. The Corruption Investigation Office for High-ranking Officials (CIO) has arrived near the residence to execute an arrest warrant for President Yoon.
According to the police, around 7:30 a.m., about 1,150 supporters of President Yoon were gathered near the residence. About 1,000 were located to the north, approximately 100 meters from the main gate, and about 150 to the south. According to the Assembly and Demonstration Act, gatherings or protests are not allowed within 100 meters of the residence boundary.
For this reason, supporters of President Yoon are attempting to advance to the front of the main gate of the residence to prevent the CIO prosecutors and investigators from entering to execute the arrest warrant. They are chanting "Open the road" while confronting the police. They held placards reading "Martial law legitimacy" and "Lee Jae-myung arrest."
The police have deployed about 3,000 riot police in preparation for clashes. 135 riot police buses are on standby at the scene. Due to the protest and riot police buses, vehicle traffic on Hannam-daero in front of the residence is partially controlled in both directions.
The "National Movement for Correcting the Republic of Korea," opposing President Yoon's impeachment and arrest, sent a notice to its members the previous day, stating, "The CIO plans to make a surprise entry (into the residence) at dawn tomorrow (3rd)," and urged, "Please move to the Hannam-dong residence by 6 a.m. and hold your position."