South Korea’s Yoon vows to ‘fight until the end’ as arrest over martial law looms

The opposition said the impeached president’s letter to his supporters was aimed at triggering an ‘extreme clash’

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Supporters of impeached South Korean President Yoon Suk-yeol gather near his residence in Seoul on January 1. Photo: AFP

Published: 11:06am, 2 Jan 2025Updated: 9:31pm, 2 Jan 2025

South Korea’s impeached President Yoon Suk-yeol has sent a letter rallying his supporters saying he would “fight until the end” as he faces an attempt by authorities to arrest him over his short-lived December 3 martial law, a lawyer said on Thursday.

“I am watching on YouTube live all the hard work you are doing,” Yoon wrote in the letter late on Wednesday to the estimated hundreds of supporters who have gathered near his official residence protesting his investigation.

“I will fight until the end to protect this country together with you,” he said in the letter, a photo capture of which was sent to Reuters by Seok Dong-hyeon, a lawyer advising Yoon.

The opposition Democratic Party, which has majority control of parliament and led the impeachment of Yoon on December 14, said the letter proved Yoon was delusional and remains committed to complete his “insurrection”.

“As if trying to stage insurrection wasn’t enough, he is now inciting his supporters to an extreme clash,” party spokesman Jo Seoung-lae said in a statement.

A court on Tuesday approved a warrant for Yoon’s arrest, which potentially would make him the first sitting president to be detained as part of investigations over allegations he masterminded insurrection by trying to impose martial law.

Insurrection is one of the few criminal charges from which a South Korean president does not have immunity.