SEOUL, South Korea -— Impeached South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol, in a message to conservative supporters rallying outside his Seoul residence, vowed to “fight to the end” against “anti-state forces,” while his legal team warned Thursday that police officers attempting to detain him could face arrest by his presidential security service or even civilians.
The embattled president’s latest statement of defiance came as the Corruption Investigation Office for High-Ranking Officials prepared to execute a detainment warrant against him that was issued by a Seoul court on Tuesday and is valid for one week. The warrant was issued after Mr. Yoon evaded multiple requests to appear for questioning and blocked searches of his office, hindering an investigation into whether his short-lived power grab through a declaration of martial law last month amounted to rebellion.
Oh Dong-woon, the anti-corruption agency’s chief prosecutor, has indicated that police forces might be deployed if Mr. Yoon’s security service resists the detention attempt. But it remains unclear whether Mr. Yoon can be compelled to submit to questioning.
Mr. Yoon’s legal team issued a statement on Thursday warning that any attempt by the anti-corruption agency to use police units for his detention would exceed their legal authority. The lawyers said police officers could face arrest by either the “presidential security service or any citizens” if they try to detain an elected sitting president.
South Korean law permits anyone to make an arrest to stop an active crime, and critics accused Mr. Yoon of inciting his supporters to obstruct attempts to detain him.
In a message to supporters gathered outside his residence Wednesday evening, Mr. Yoon said he would continue to fight against anti-state forces “violating our sovereignty” and putting the nation in “danger.” He applauded his supporters for their efforts to protect “liberal democracy and constitutional order” and said he was watching their protests on live YouTube broadcasts, according to a photo of the message shared by Mr. Yoon’s lawyers.
Yoon Kap-keun, the president’s lawyer, filed a challenge with the Seoul Western District Court on Thursday to block both the detention warrant and a related search warrant for the presidential residence. The lawyer argued that both warrants violate criminal laws and the constitution.
The liberal opposition Democratic Party, which drove the legislative vote that impeached Mr. Yoon on Dec. 14 over his Dec. 3 imposition of martial law, accused the president of trying to mobilize his supporters to block his detention and called for law enforcement authorities to execute the warrant immediately.
Braving subfreezing temperatures, thousands of Mr. Yoon’s supporters rallied for hours near his residence on Thursday amid a heavy police presence, waving South Korean and American flags while chanting, “Nullify the impeachment!” and “We will protect President Yoon Suk Yeol!” Officers removed some protesters who laid down on a road leading to the entrance of Mr. Yoon’s residence, but there were no immediate reports of major clashes.
Some experts believe the anti-corruption agency, which is leading a joint investigation with police and military authorities, would not risk clashing with Mr. Yoon’s security service, which has said it will provide security to the president in accordance with the law.
If Mr. Yoon is detained, the anti-corruption agency will have 48 hours to investigate him and either request a warrant for his formal arrest or release him. Mr. Yoon’s defense minister, police chief and several top military commanders have already been arrested over their roles in the martial law scheme.
Mr. Yoon’s presidential powers were suspended following a National Assembly vote to impeach him on Dec. 14 over his imposition of martial law, which lasted only hours but has triggered weeks of political turmoil, halted high-level diplomacy and rattled financial markets. Mr. Yoon’s fate now lies with the Constitutional Court, which has begun deliberations on whether to uphold the impeachment and formally remove Mr. Yoon from office or reinstate him.
To formally end Mr. Yoon’s presidency, at least six justices on the nine-member Constitutional Court must vote in favor.
The National Assembly, dominated by opposition parties, voted last week to also impeach Prime Minister Han Duck-soo, who became acting president after Mr. Yoon’s powers were suspended, over his reluctance to fill three Constitutional Court vacancies ahead of the court’s review of Mr. Yoon’s case.
Facing growing pressure, the new acting president, Deputy Prime Minister Choi Sang-mok, appointed two new justices on Tuesday, which possibly increased the chances of the court upholding Mr. Yoon’s impeachment.
Cho Han-chang, one of the newly appointed justices, said Thursday that he began his job with a “heavy heart.” Jeong Gye-seon, the other new justice, expressed hope that the remaining vacancy would be filled.
Mr. Yoon has defended his martial law decree as a necessary act of governance, portraying it as a temporary warning against the Democratic Party, which he has described as an “anti-state” force obstructing his agenda with its legislative majority and attempting to remove many of the administration’s key officials.
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