Security personnel are stationed outside the official residence of South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol, who has been impeached, in Seoul on January 10, 2025. Reuters
The head of South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol's security team, Park Chong-jun, has raised concerns over the ongoing efforts to arrest the impeached leader, emphasizing that Yoon has been treated unfairly given his position. Yoon is under investigation for his controversial martial law proposal on December 3, and now faces the risk of arrest over the criminal probe.
Park, who heads the Presidential Security Service (PSS), is himself under investigation for obstructing the authorities during a tense standoff that took place last week. During that time, PSS agents blocked police efforts to execute an arrest warrant for Yoon, leading to a six-hour standoff. As Park arrived at police headquarters for questioning, he argued that attempting to arrest a sitting president was inappropriate and warned against any violent confrontation.
“There should be no bloodshed or physical clashes in any situation,” Park said, calling for Yoon to be treated with the dignity deserving of the country's leader. He also mentioned that the acting President, Choi Sang-mok, had not addressed his requests for ensuring the safety of the officials involved in the standoff.
The confrontation between PSS agents and the investigators was tense, with hundreds of security agents surrounding the presidential compound and preventing the investigators from carrying out their mission. Even though no firearms were drawn, reports confirmed that the PSS agents were carrying weapons during the standoff. The investigators, from the Corruption Investigation Office for High-ranking Officials (CIO), had been trying to arrest Yoon after he ignored multiple summonses for questioning.
This week, the investigators obtained a new arrest warrant for Yoon, yet his legal team has called it illegal and invalid. While the situation remains in limbo, Yoon is also facing an ongoing trial with the Constitutional Court, which is tasked with deciding whether he will be permanently removed from office or reinstated following his impeachment by the South Korean parliament on December 14.
As Yoon continues to await the outcome of the trial, a surprising shift has emerged in public opinion. Recent polls show a resurgence in support for Yoon's ruling People Power Party (PPP). A Gallup Korea survey released on Friday indicated that 64% of respondents still favor Yoon’s removal from office, but this is a drop from the 75% who supported his removal soon after the martial law declaration. The PPP’s approval rating also saw an increase, rising to 34%, up from 24% in December.
The prolonged uncertainty surrounding Yoon’s situation has had a mixed impact. It has rallied his supporters, while also raising doubts among some of his critics. There are growing concerns among those who fear the rise of the liberal opposition Democratic Party’s leader, who is facing his own criminal trials, and who could replace Yoon if he were removed from office.
As tensions rise between the government and the opposition, the situation remains uncertain. The standoff over Yoon's impeachment and potential removal has set the stage for an intense political battle, with many hoping for a peaceful resolution without further escalation.
