Supporters and opponents of President Yoon Suk-yeol protested several hundred meters apart along major roads in Seoul.
About 35,000 supporters of South Korean President Yoon Suk-yeol today marched near Gwanghwamun Square in central Seoul at 1 p.m., then moved toward Hannam-dong, Yongsan District, to protest against the protesters. proposed to arrest and impeach Mr. Yoon.
Kim Chul-hong, 60 years old, said that if Mr. Yoon was arrested, South Korea’s security alliance with the US and Japan would be undermined.
“Protecting President Yoon means protecting the country’s security against threats from North Korea,” he said.
Protesters supporting Korean President Yoon Suk-yeol near Gwanghwamun Square on January 4. Image: Yonhap
400 meters away, members of the Korean Confederation of Trade Unions (KCTU) called for Mr. Yoon’s immediate arrest. KCTU members marched near the Korean President’s residence but were stopped by police. A scuffle broke out and two people were arrested on charges of attacking police.
Protesters occupied the streets, causing serious traffic jams in the area. Hangangjin subway station closed briefly, the train passed but did not stop. Another large-scale protest took place near Gwanghwamun Square, demanding the quick removal of Mr. Yoon.
Protesters protesting against Mr. Yoon pushed down barricades and spilled onto the street near the Korean President’s residence in Seoul on January 4. Image: Reuters
The Korean investigation agency today continued to ask acting President Choi Sang-mok to order the Presidential Guard Service (PSS) to comply with the arrest order of Mr. Yoon, after the PSS and soldiers blocked the prosecution. The officer wanted to enter the mansion to arrest Mr. Yoon on January 3.
The political situation in South Korea fell into chaos after President Yoon declared martial law on December 3, 2024 and quickly lifted the order at the request of the National Assembly. The Western Seoul Court at the end of December issued an arrest warrant for the President, after Mr. Yoon refused three times the investigative agency’s summons for questioning. Mr. Yoon was stripped of power after being impeached by the National Assembly, but remains President of South Korea while awaiting the Constitutional Court’s verdict on impeachment.