South Korea president Yoon Suk Yeol ‘hasn’t fled, will face court’

A lawyer for Yoon Suk Yeol has said he is prepared to stand trial if he’s indicted or a ‘legal’ arrest warrant is issued, and denied reports the suspended president has fled the presidential palace.

Supporters of impeached South Korea president Yoon Suk Yeol rally near his residence in Seoul. Picture: AFP.

A lawyer for South Korea’s impeached President Yoon Suk Yeol has said he is prepared to stand trial if he’s indicted or a “legal” arrest warrant is issued, and denied reports Mr Yoon has fled the presidential palace.

A day after a court granted an extension of a warrant to detain the suspended president over his short-lived imposition of martial law, lawyer Yun Gap-keu repeated the defence team’s claims that the current warrant is invalid, Yonhap news agency reports.

“What’s clear is that if the Corruption Investigation Office for High-ranking Officials files (the warrant) to the Seoul Western District Court, which is outside the jurisdiction, we cannot accept it,” Mr Yun said, stressing that the jurisdiction over charges against Yoon lies with the Seoul Central District Court.

On Tuesday, investigators said they were unsure of Mr Yoon’s whereabouts after a politician asked if he had already fled.

“I am considering various possibilities,” Corruption Investigation Office (CIO) chief Oh Dong-woon said.

However Mr Yoon’s legal team dismissed the claims, saying his lawyers met him on Wednesday night, Yonhap reports.

Mr Yoon avoided an arrest attempt last week after his bungled December 3 martial law decree plunged South Korea into its worst political crisis in decades. The decree led to his suspension and impeachment.

The 64-year-old former prosecutor was at home when investigators carried out their failed attempt to arrest him last week and was still there until early this week, the Yonhap news agency, citing police, reported on Wednesday.

Opposition member Youn Kun-young said on Tuesday that Mr Yoon’s home was “turning into a fortress”, with guards installing barbed wire and using buses as blockades before an anticipated second arrest attempt.

Mr Yoon’s home – a former foreign ministry residence – is nestled in Hannam-dong, an affluent Seoul neighbourhood along the Han River renowned for its luxurious homes, some of the country’s most expensive.

It is also popular with K-pop stars, reportedly including members of the megagroup BTS, and hosts many foreign embassies.

Situated in Yongsan district, which stationed colonial troops during Japanese rule and American troops after World War II, it now plays host to Mr Yoon’s own legion.

Investigators made their landmark move to arrest Mr Yoon last week and were let through only to be met by vehicle blockades and a wall of security forces.

Around 200 presidential security service members linked arms to prevent them reaching him, forcing investigators to stand down.

The suspended leader was inside at the time, according to police, and vowed to “fight” alongside supporters outside while watching them on a YouTube livestream.

He moved into the hilltop residence with First Lady Kim Keon Hee in 2022 after refusing to take up residence in the presidential Blue House – named for its thousands of blue tiles – and office in central Seoul.

He chose the complex after criticising the centuries-old Blue House for being a symbol of imperial exuberance, the first South Korean leader in modern history to refuse to live there.

Mr Yoon denied that he moved residence because of advice from a shaman with whom he was accused of having close links.

The opposition also accused him of listening to feng shui masters who said the Blue House site was linked to bad luck.

The guards and Mr Yoon’s legal team claim the site, including a no-fly zone, is a sensitive military area holding official secrets and say investigators have no jurisdiction to enter.

‘Liability’

South Korea has found itself in uncharted territory regardless of the outcome of Mr Yoon’s case – its sitting president will either be arrested, or he will have evaded court-ordered detention.

Experts said the chances of Mr Yoon’s arrest were rising.

“I assume that the arrest will happen. A number of conservative politicians already disowned Yoon – to them now, he is more of a liability rather than an asset,” Vladimir Tikhonov, professor of Korean studies at the University of Oslo, told AFP.

The new warrant has left those opposed to Yoon more positive that he will be brought to justice.

“We will all stand together in this fight. I truly hope for Yoon’s arrest,” said Bae Hoon, 46, who had stayed in front of Yoon’s residence for two nights in frigid weather.

The CIO was set up less than four years ago and has fewer than 100 staff, who are yet to prosecute a single case.

South Korea’s opposition Democratic Party told AFP on Monday it had submitted a legal complaint against acting president Choi Sang-mok for “dereliction of duty” after he failed to support Mr Yoon’s arrest as they requested.

South Korea’s Constitutional Court has slated January 14 for the start of Mr Yoon’s impeachment trial, which would proceed in his absence if he does not attend.

Local media reported that he was likely to appear on the opening day, but Mr Yoon’s lawyer said his appearance was still “undecided”.

Former presidents Roh Moo-hyun and Park Geun-hye never appeared for their impeachment trials in 2004 and 2016-2017 respectively.

The court has up to 180 days from December 14, when the court received the case, to determine whether to dismiss Yoon or restore him as president.

AFP