Tension Rises Ahead of Yoon Arrest Warrant Execution Near Hannam-dong Presidential Residence

Pro-impeachment Side: "Yoon Suk-yeol Step Down"
Anti-impeachment Side: "Arrest Lee Jae-myung"
Shouting and Insults Escalate Between Both Sides

Tensions are rising again in front of the presidential residence in Hannam-dong as speculation mounts that a second arrest attempt of President Yoon Suk-yeol is imminent.

Anti-impeachment rally held on the morning of the 14th near the Presidential Residence in Hannam-dong, Yongsan-gu, Seoul. Photo by Yeom Da-yeon

Participants opposing impeachment shouted slogans such as "Eradicate Election Fraud" and "Arrest Lee Jae-myung" around 6:40 a.m. on the 14th in front of the Lutheran Church near the Hangangjin Station overpass. A supporter who gave a speech said, "Choi Sang-mok should immediately hand over the police and the Corruption Investigation Office for High-ranking Officials. This is the slogan we must shout today," prompting everyone to respond in unison, "Hand them over." Despite the cold weather, some waved the Taegeukgi flag on one side, while others continuously waved cheering sticks on the other.

About 200 meters away in front of the Volvo Building, a pro-impeachment rally was held. Although it was early, participants swayed their bodies to the cheer songs and raised their voices shouting "Yoon Suk-yeol step down." Mr. Jo (35) said, "Supporters of President Yoon pass by here dozens of times a day, hurling insults," adding, "Last time, when I asked why they called me a communist or a red, they grabbed my hair saying I was rude." Mr. Han (68) said, "Since they couldn’t arrest him yesterday, I stayed up all night expecting it today, but it seems unlikely," and added, "I will stay here not only until the arrest but also until the Constitutional Court decides on the impeachment."

On the morning of the 14th, participants of the anti-impeachment rally are warming themselves under the barricades set up by the police near the presidential residence in Hannam-dong, Yongsan-gu, Seoul. Photo by Yeom Da-yeon

The rallies for and against President Yoon’s impeachment are becoming increasingly intense. Insults and shouting between the two sides have become commonplace. On the 12th, a man in his 50s, Mr. A, who wielded a box cutter at a rally near the residence, was arrested on the spot on charges of special threats.

Meanwhile, the Joint Investigation Headquarters (JIH), investigating the '12·3 Emergency Martial Law Incident,' is expected to execute the second arrest warrant for President Yoon Suk-yeol as early as tomorrow. The police are mobilizing more than 1,000 investigators to prepare for a prolonged operation lasting two to three days. The National Investigation Headquarters is holding a meeting of police superintendents from the Metropolitan Criminal Mobile Unit and Anti-Corruption Investigation Unit to conduct final operational planning.

On the same day, the National Investigation Headquarters of the National Police Agency held a third meeting with the command of the Seoul, Southern Gyeonggi, and Northern Gyeonggi Criminal Mobile Units to review the arrest operation. It is known that the previous meeting discussed detailed operational plans to enter the heavily fortified Hannam-dong residence, including the use of barricades and barbed wire.