Impeached South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol vows to "fight until the end" Amid arrest attempt

Impeached South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol has sent a defiant message to his supporters, pledging to "fight until the end" as he faces an arrest attempt over his controversial declaration of martial law on December 3, 2024.

Yoon's statement, conveyed in a letter late Wednesday, has stirred controversy, with some accusing him of inciting further unrest, Caliber.Az reports via foreign media.

"I am watching on YouTube live all the hard work you are doing," Yoon wrote in the letter addressed to hundreds of his supporters, who have gathered outside his official residence to protest his investigation. "I will fight until the end to protect this country together with you," he added. A photo of the letter was shared with Reuters by Yoon's lawyer, Seok Dong-hyeon.

The letter comes amid a heightened political crisis, as Yoon faces a growing investigation into allegations that he masterminded an insurrection by attempting to impose martial law in early December. On December 31, a South Korean court approved a warrant for his arrest, which, if executed, would make Yoon the first sitting president in South Korean history to be detained in connection with an investigation.

The opposition Democratic Party, which holds majority control of parliament and led Yoon's impeachment on December 14, denounced the letter as proof of Yoon's delusional behaviour. "As if trying to stage insurrection wasn't enough, he is now inciting his supporters to an extreme clash," said Jo Seoung-lae, a spokesman for the party, in a statement to the press.

The Corruption Investigation Office for High-ranking Officials (CIO) is currently leading the joint investigation, which also includes police and prosecutors. The arrest warrant must be executed by January 6, but the exact timing and method of the arrest remain unclear. Tensions are high, as Yoon's presidential security service has blocked investigators from entering his office and official residence in the past.

In addition to the criminal investigation, Yoon's impeachment trial is ongoing at the Constitutional Court, with the next hearing scheduled for January 3. Yoon has been suspended from his presidential duties, with Finance Minister Choi Sang-mok stepping in as acting president. If the court upholds the impeachment, a new presidential election will be called within 60 days.

Yoon's legal team has strongly opposed the arrest warrant, arguing that the CIO lacks the authority under South Korean law to request such a warrant. The warrant for Yoon's arrest is illegal and invalid, said Yoon's lawyer, Yoon Kab-keun.

The investigation continues to draw attention, with a former defence minister who allegedly recommended the martial law declaration indicted on charges of insurrection. He is set to stand trial on January 16. Several top military officers accused of involvement in the martial law episode have also been indicted. The outcome of these cases will likely have significant implications for the ongoing political crisis in South Korea.

By Vugar Khalilov