The president did not resist this time, but during the interrogation he exercised his right to remain silent. However, at the same time he released a video message in which he stated that he would appear before the Constitutional Court in the coming days. South Korean society is now divided in two, with equal percentages of support for the conservative party and the opposition.
Seoul (/Agencies) – South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol was detained at his residence and later transferred to Gwacheon, south of Seoul, to be interrogated by officials from the Corruption Investigation Office of Senior Officials (CIO). ) who are investigating the case. Yoon is charged with insurrection and abuse of power for declaring martial law on December 3. But in mid-December, the National Assembly (South Korean Parliament) also approved his dismissal and in the coming weeks the Constitutional Court will have to decide whether or not to suspend Yoon from his position.
After a failed first arrest attempt, agents encountered limited resistance from presidential guards, the CIO said in a statement, noting that there were no “significant physical confrontations.” Yoon was subsequently questioned for two and a half hours, but exercised his right to remain silent and refused to testify. Investigators can detain Yoon for 48 hours, but will then have to issue a formal detention order to extend the detention.
Previously, Yoon and members of his party, the conservative People’s Power Party (PPP), had defended the imposition of martial law to counter what they described as legislative abuse by Parliament, controlled by the opposition since April last year. which had created a significant stagnation in the approval of laws.
“Although this is an illegal investigation, I have decided to agree to appear before the CIO to avoid horrible bloodshed,” Yoon said in a video message recorded and released after his arrest. In the video he states that the CIO does not have the authority to deal with an insurrection case. But he also declares his intention to appear before the Constitutional Court for the process that will determine his political future.
Yoon’s arrest sparked protests again, this time outside the CIO complex, where some 3,000 police officers were deployed. Thousands of protesters, divided between supporters and detractors of the president, gathered in the streets despite the freezing temperatures. Yoon’s supporters called the IOC a “communist agency” and accused the government of politically persecuting the president.
Many wore “Make America Great Again” hats, waved American flags and borrowed various slogans (such as “stop the steal”) commonly used by Donald Trump’s supporters, who accuse the US Democratic Party of “stealing the elections” in 2020, when Biden won, and of fabricating false judicial charges against the Republican president.
Yoon’s supporters – strongly pro-American – also believe that the opposition (which in South Korea is also represented by the Democratic Party) has turned against the head of government. All members of the PPP, including the acting president, have repeatedly said today that the CIO’s actions are “illegal.”
Although the majority of the South Korean population is against the imposition of martial law, recent events have fossilized the political stalemate. According to a Realmeter poll published on Monday, support for the PPP is 40.8%, compared to 42.2% for the Democratic Party. But just a week earlier, the Democratic Party had a lead over the PPP of more than 10 percentage points.
Reflecting the growing polarization of South Korean society, the Democratic Party of Korea declared that the arrest of Yoon Suk-yeol is the first step towards respect for the rule of law. In Parliament, the majority is seeking approval of a bill allowing the appointment of a special prosecutor to investigate treason charges against Yoon.
“Although it has taken a long time, I am relieved to confirm that public power and justice are still alive in Korea,” commented today one of the deputies of the Democratic Party, Park Chan-dae, who affirmed that Yoon Suk-yeol violated the Constitution by proclaiming the martial law and by resisting the first arrest he obstructed compliance with the law. Party leader Lee Jae-myung also urged the rapid restoration of constitutional order to “prioritize the people’s livelihood and economy.”
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