As President Yoon Suk-yeol was arrested by the High-ranking Officials Criminal Investigation Office (CIO) on the morning of the 15th, supporters have moved from the presidential residence in Hannam-dong, Yongsan District, Seoul, to the CIO building in Gwacheon City to hold a rally.
President Yoon was arrested by the CIO at 10:33 a.m. that day. The vehicle carrying President Yoon left the residence around 10:38 a.m. and arrived at the CIO in 15 minutes. The CIO has been conducting an investigation of President Yoon since 11 a.m.
As President Yoon was arrested, the host of the rally in Hannam-dong said, "Let's gather in front of the CIO." Supporters of President Yoon began gathering in front of the main gate of the Government Gwacheon Complex, where the CIO is located, around 11:30 a.m. They waved the South Korean and American flags while chanting slogans like "Release the president," "Invalid impeachment," and "Illegal arrest." Signs included messages like "Imprison Lee Jae-myung" along with the claim that the last general election was a fraudulent election, stating "Stop the Steal."
The supporters of President Yoon who reported the rally in front of the CIO include six groups such as the New Freedom Federation and the Our Republic Party. The total number of participants reported was 5,200, but the police's unofficial estimate around 2:30 p.m. indicated that approximately 2,000 protesters were gathered in front of the CIO. Former Liberty Korea Party leader Hwang Kyo-ahn and lawyer Kang Yong-seok participated.
The rally participants booed the police who arrested President Yoon. A woman said, "Since you all made an illegal arrest, we also won't follow the law now," while a man shouted, "If you tell me to follow the law in the future, I will tear your mouth apart."
Pastor Jeon Gwang-hoon of the Sarang Jeil Church, who has been holding rallies supporting President Yoon in Gwanghwamun Square and elsewhere, appeared at the rally site in front of the CIO around 3 p.m. He claimed, "The purpose of the CIO is not to arrest President Yoon but to arrest me. If that happens, Gwanghwamun will fall," adding, "President Yoon is a person appointed by God, and if he returns within a week, North Korea will collapse on its own."
President Yoon is currently being investigated in the CIO video interrogation room. He is expected to be detained at the Seoul Detention Center in Uiwang City after the investigation concludes.