Yoon might have failed at his coup, but it looks like he should be able to weasel out of consequences for it.
CNN:
South Korean investigators have suspended efforts to enforce an arrest warrant for embattled President Yoon Suk Yeol on Friday, hours into a standoff in which authorities tried to detain the leader following his short-lived martial law declaration.Some 80 police and investigators entered the presidential residence compound in Seoul early morning and were blocked by the presidential security team from carrying out the warrant, South Korea’s Corruption Investigation Office (CIO) told CNN – deepening their showdown with defiant and embattled Yoon.
The CIO called off the arrest warrant enforcement Friday afternoon citing the safety of the people on the ground, according to a statement. The warrant, which is valid until January 6, remains in effect and could be extended.
Heavy police presence was seen on streets near Yoon’s residence as hundreds gathered to support the leader, who plunged the nation into political chaos with his swiftly overturned declaration one month ago.
Yeah, he still has supporters willing to go out into the street and protest in his defense.
He should just do another coup.
Why not?
The president is wanted for questioning in multiple investigations, including accusations of leading an insurrection – a crime punishable by life imprisonment or even the death penalty.A court earlier this week approved the warrant for Yoon – the first time such action has been taken against a sitting president. In response, the presidential security team said that security measures “will be taken in accordance with due process.”
Yoon, himself a former prosecutor, has refused to answer three summonses by investigators in recent weeks asking for his cooperation, according to the CIO.
After suspending efforts to detain Yoon, the CIO expressed “deep regret” at “the suspect’s attitude of not following the process by law” and said they would decide on next steps.
…
Crowds of diehard supporters were gathered near the presidential residence despite frigid temperatures, with some camping there overnight. Many of those backing the leader – widely seen as a conservative firebrand and staunch US ally tough on China and North Korea – held signs with the phrase “Stop the steal” printed in English, while others waved American flags.
Other supporters held placards describing his arrest as treason, while some shouted that they should push through the barricade set up by police and chanted: “Arrest the CIO.”
These rabid supporters are the reason they canceled trying to enforce the warrant. That’s the only reason they would stop.
Apparently, there is some kind of analysis that shows the situation is incredibly volatile, and Yoon’s supporters could start causing a severe ruckus.
He’s apparently given up on his dream of establishing an incel dictatorship in the country, and is using this potentially violent supporters to maneuver out of facing some kind of criminal charges. What he should do is just declare martial law again, and not choke this time. There was literally no reason for him to stop the first time. Obviously there were going to be protests. How would he think there wouldn’t be protests? Protests don’t matter if you have control of the cops and military and you have supporters who will go out into the street and counter-protest.
He really screwed this up, badly.
