Cries of despair, cheers of hope fill Hannam streets in Seoul after President Yoon’s detention

SEOUL - With South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol taken into custody by investigators on Jan 15, mixed voices among protesters for and against Mr Yoon’s detention echoed in front of Mr Yoon’s residence at Hannam-dong in Yongsan-gu, central Seoul.

From around 5am, the streets of Hannamdaero began to swell with pro- and anti-Yoon protesters, with one side demanding he be detained and the other chanting his name in support while criticising the police action as illegal.

Hannamdaero, which has attracted pro- and anti-Yoon demonstrators following the first failed attempt to arrest Mr Yoon on Jan 3, saw around 6,500 Mr Yoon supporters and around 200 anti-Yoon demonstrators Jan 15 morning, according to on-site police officials.

Though the protests were relatively peaceful on both sides at first, tensions began to escalate around 8am, when news broke about investigators penetrating the third barricade and moving in toward the presidential residence.

While pro-Yoon protesters shouted chants such as “President Yoon Suk Yeol” and “Stop the illegal arrest,” anti-Yoon protesters cheered and chanted “Time for you to go to prison, Suk Yeol” and sang protest anthems such as Girls’ Generation’s Into The New World and Day 6’s Welcome To The Show.

Protesters from the two sides could also be seen quarreling with one another, and some minor clashes between the police and Mr Yoon’s supporters resulted in severe traffic delays nearby.

Following the news that Mr Yoon had been taken into custody at 10.33am, several supporters sank to the ground in tears. “This can’t be happening, this has to be a dream,” one supporter sobbed.

“The Corruption Investigation Office for High-ranking Officials and the police are taking things way too far,” a supporter, who wished to be identified by his surname Kang, told The Korea Herald. “The people who came out in support today are the only ones standing by his side. What did he do that was so wrong for such extreme measures to be taken against him?”

After it was confirmed that Mr Yoon would be questioned by the CIO from 11am, anti-Yoon protesters began to shout, “Let’s go to the CIO,” in unison.

“I realised for sure today that above all else, the voices of the people are what’s most important. We have to prove to the authorities that we’re never going to give up and we’re going to continue to fight,” pro-Yoon protester Yoo told The Korea Herald. “Since the president has left to be questioned at the CIO, I’m going to go to the CIO right now to show my support for him. I’m a patriot and I love my country, so I’m going to do my part to protect it and its democracy.”

Upon hearing of Mr Yoon’s detainment, anti-Yoon protesters began to cheer while also shouting “We won” and singing songs in celebration.

“It’s about time,” anti-Yoon protester Jang Yun-gi, told The Korea Herald. “I couldn’t sleep properly for days because his arrest wasn’t being carried out properly. I’ll sleep in peace today and go out to protest again tomorrow to make sure justice is properly served from here on.”

Other Koreans expressed hope but also scepticism and concern for South Korea’s future, upon hearing of Mr Yoon’s arrest.

“I feel positive and hopeful about our nation’s democracy. (At this stage,) I believe South Korea will eventually move past this chaos and political instability by the power of its citizens and become a more politically developed country,” 25-year-old Lee June-seong told The Korea Herald.

Mr Lee Seo-young, 38, said: “While I’m glad the arrest was finally made, I’m also left with many questions and concerns regarding Korea’s future. (Yoon’s) detention is only the beginning, just another step taken since Yoon was stripped of his presidential powers. There are other steps still remaining such as arrest, the approval of his impeachment and eventual punishment, so I’m still worried about the long road that’s ahead of us.” THE KOREA HERALD/ASIA NEWS NETWORK