South Korea’s Yun vows to ‘fight to the end’ in the face of unprecedented martial law detention Reuters

By Hyun Yang Yi

SEOUL (Reuters) – South Korea’s impeached president, Yun Suk-yeol, sent a letter rallying supporters on Dec 3 as he faced an attempt by authorities to arrest him under martial law. The lawyer said on Thursday.

“I’m watching all the hard work you’re doing live on YouTube,” Yoon wrote late Wednesday in a letter to hundreds of supporters gathered near his official residence protesting the investigation.

“I will fight to the end to protect this country with you,” he said in the letter, according to a photo sent to Reuters by Seok Dong-hyun, a lawyer advising Yoon.

The opposition Democratic Party, which controls a majority in parliament and led Yun’s impeachment on December 14, said the letter proved Yun was delusional and was committed to ending the “rebellion”.

“As if it wasn’t enough that he tried to incite rebellion, he is now inciting his supporters to violent clashes,” party spokesman Jo Seong-le said in a statement.

A court on Tuesday approved Yeon’s arrest warrant, which could make him the first rival president to be arrested as part of an investigation into allegations he orchestrated an uprising in an attempt to impose martial law.

Sedition is one of the few crimes for which South Korea’s president does not have immunity.

The High Officials Corruption Investigation Bureau, which is leading a joint team of investigators that includes police and prosecutors, has until January 6 to execute the arrest warrant.

It was unclear when and how the arrest was made, and whether the presidential security service, which has denied investigators access to search warrants for Yun’s office and official residence, would try to stop the arrest attempt.

Separately, the UN impeachment case is being heard by the Constitutional Court. The court will hold the second hearing on Friday. Yoon was suspended from the presidency and Finance Minister Choi Sang-mok took over as acting president pending the conclusion of the trial.

A new presidential election will be held within 60 days of Yoon’s removal from office if the court upholds the charges.

Yoon Kab-kyun, a lawyer for the impeached president, said the arrest warrant was illegal and invalid because the CIO did not have the authority to request an arrest warrant under South Korean law.

Yeon’s arrest, as well as searches of his office and residence, came after the conservative prosecutor’s office repeatedly called for a separate criminal investigation from the Constitutional Court hearing by investigators.

Former Defense Minister Yoon suggested declaring martial law and said he was charged with sedition and will be tried on January 16. Some of the top military officers in charge of the defense of the capital, Seoul, have also been charged. Suspected involvement.

(This story has been edited to correct spelling in the headline and paragraphs 1 and 3)