By Adenike Lawal
Impeached South Korean President Yoon Suk-yeol has defied arrest for a third consecutive day, maintaining a tense standoff with authorities at his official residence.
Yoon’s impeachment stems from a controversial December 3 declaration of martial law, which led to his removal and potential prosecution for insurrection.
Supporters and opponents have gathered outside Yoon’s residence, while his security team has thwarted police attempts to execute an arrest warrant.
Yoon, in a statement read by his lawyer, Yoon Kab-keun, claimed South Korea’s sovereignty is under threat and vowed to “protect the nation to the very end.”
Opposition lawmakers criticized Yoon’s remarks as inflammatory, with Democratic Party spokesperson Jo Seoung-lae calling him “delusional” and accusing him of incitement.
Yoon’s legal team has filed an injunction against the arrest warrant, which they argue is unlawful.
Chief of the Corruption Investigation Office, Oh Dong-woon, warned that obstructing Yoon’s arrest could lead to prosecution.
A Seoul court has authorized arrest and search warrants for Yoon’s residence, but his guards have blocked access, citing legal protections for locations containing official secrets.
The political crisis deepened when acting President Han Duck-soo was impeached for allegedly failing to investigate Yoon’s actions.
Finance Minister Choi Sang-mok has assumed interim leadership, facing criticism for proposing judicial appointments amid escalating tensions.
Yoon, accused of ignoring multiple summonses, continues to assert that opposition forces are colluding with communist adversaries.
Protests in Seoul by his supporters further underscore the nation’s political turmoil, evoking memories of South Korea’s fraught history with military rule.
