Supporters of President Yoon Suk Yeol are holding an overnight rally near the presidential residence in Hannam-dong, Yongsan-gu, Seoul, on the 15th, saying they will prevent the execution of the second arrest warrant from the Corruption Investigation Office for High-Ranking Officials (CIO).
According to the police, around 6,500 supporters of President Yoon gathered near the residence at around 4:40 a.m., waving red flashing lights and staging a protest.
The Corruption Investigation Office for High-Ranking Officials (CIO) arrived in front of the residence at around 4:20 a.m. to execute the arrest warrant for President Yoon. Police arrest teams also arrived in front of the residence. As of 5:30 a.m., the CIO and police are in standoff with the Presidential Security Service. Dozens of lawmakers from the People Power Party are lined up in 5 to 6 rows in front of the residence entry, attempting to block the execution of the arrest warrant.
Supporters of President Yoon are holding rallies in front of the Lutheran church near Hannam Elementary School and Hangangjin Station. Protesters calling for President Yoon's impeachment are rallying in front of the Volvo building, which is close to the presidential residence.
Supporters of President Yoon are waving the national flag and the American flag, along with red flashing lights. One participant shouted, “I love President Yoon Suk Yeol.” Another participant yelled at the police mobile unit, “What has our president done wrong?” YouTuber Shin Hye-sik said, “The CIO's investigations are all invalid,” adding, “I heard that lawmakers from the People Power Party are protesting strongly.”
Some participants in the rally argued to move forward to the area where the CIO and police are in standoff with the security service. The host cautioned, “Can you take responsibility if people get hurt? Those who want to leave have already left,” trying to dissuade them.
About 50 supporters of President Yoon staged a sit-in protest in front of the main gate of the residence around 11 p.m. the previous day. The police mobile unit began forcibly dispersing the crowd around 12:20 a.m., and the surprise sit-in was concluded around 1 a.m., two hours after it began. During this process, a scuffle occurred between the police and supporters of President Yoon.
Around 200 people are gathered at the site of the rally calling for President Yoon's impeachment. They shouted slogans like “Arrest Yoon Suk Yeol.”