SEOUL—Hundreds of supporters of South Korea’s impeached President Yoon Suk Yeol rallied outside his home on Wednesday in a bid to protect him as investigators prepared a fresh arrest attempt.
Yoon has refused questioning and resisted arrest after his bungled December 3 martial law decree plunged South Korea into its worst political crisis in decades.
Investigators secured a new arrest warrant Tuesday after an initial seven-day order expired. Several hundred members of his base rushed to the conservative leader’s house in central Seoul in response, braving sub-zero temperatures.
“A large number of people are coming out to join us. Despite the cold weather, many stayed up all night last night, braving the chill,” Lee Hye-sook, a 57-year-old Yoon supporter, told AFP outside his residence.
“Witnessing their resilience against the wind and cold, I am confident that President Yoon Suk Yeol will return, and we will prevail.”
Some supporters left flowers outside and ribbons with the Trump-style slogan “Make Korea Great Again!”, while others waved American flags at the gates of the compound from where the suspended leader has resisted arrest.
You Se-ryung, a 46-year-old YouTuber camped outside, said key security ally the United States should intervene and “help” South Korea. Many of Yoon’s supporters have adopted slogans used by US president-elect Donald Trump.
