Yoon's supporters gather near presidential residence; 2,700 police personnel deployed
Yoon Suk Yeol supporters gather near the impeached president's residence in Seoul, in protest of Yoon's arrest attempt by investigators. Korea Times photo by Shim Hyun-chul
More than 1,000 supporters of President Yoon Suk Yeol gathered near the presidential residence on Friday as investigators attempted to detain the impeached president, prompting the police to deploy some 2,700 personnel to prevent potential clashes.
As of 9:30 a.m., around 1,200 supporters had gathered outside the compound in central Seoul as officials from the Corruption Investigation Office for High-ranking Officials (CIO) were in a standoff with security personnel at the residence in their attempt, according to the police.
Drumbeats and various chants from Yoon's supporters could be heard on the scene, such as "illegal warrant, completely invalid," and "arrest the CIO."
The police dispatched some 2,700 personnel to the scene to prepare for potential clashes as authorities attempted to enter the residence building to take Yoon into custody.
A total of 135 police buses have also been deployed, with groups of them lined up to create walls in nearby roads and control the situation. Traffic has also been partially restricted at Hannam-daero near the residence.
Around 150 officials have been dispatched to carry out the warrant to detain Yoon, including 30 CIO officials and 120 police investigators.
In a message to his supporters on Wednesday, Yoon vowed to "fight to the end" in an apparent show of defiance against the ongoing investigation against him over his short-lived imposition of martial law on Dec. 3.
Yoon's supporters have gathered near the residence in recent days to oppose his impeachment and block his arrest. (Yonhap)