South Korean investigators are preparing for a fresh showdown with supporters of impeached president Yoon Suk Yeol after a second warrant was issued to detain him over his shortlived martial law declaration in December.
Both Mr Yoon’s supporters and opponents continued to brave freezing temperatures to stage rallies on the streets around the presidential palace in Seoul on Wednesday.
His supporters, carrying the national flag, chanted "Arrest Lee Jae Myung", referring to the opposition leader, and “We oppose impeachment".
The second arrest warrant for Mr Yoon came days after his supporters and security guards prevented investigators from entering the presidential palace to detain him on Friday.
The first warrant, issued after Mr Yoon repeatedly defied summons to appear for questioning. expired on Monday.
Oh Dong Woon, chief prosecutor of the anti-corruption agency leading the investigation against Mr Yoon, on Tuesday apologised for failing to execute the first warrant and vowed to "prepare thoroughly" the second time around with the understanding it could be the "last opportunity".
Mr Yoon is under criminal investigation for insurrection over his 3 December declaration of martial law that stunned South Korea and the world. The Constitutional Court, meanwhile, is set to rule on the validity of his impeachment by the National Assembly for violating his oath. If the court rules the impeachment valid, Mr Yoon will be removed from office.
The president’s security service was seen this week fortifying his compound with barbed wire and barricades, and parking buses to block access to the hillside villa where Mr Yoon is believed to be holed up.
Mr Yoon's lawyers on Monday filed complaints against Mr Oh and six other anti-corruption and police officers for orchestrating Friday's detainment attempt, which they claimed was illegal. The lawyers said they planned to file complaints against about 150 anti-corruption and police investigators involved in the detention attempt.
Park Jong Joon, head of the presidential security service, hit back against criticism that they had become Mr Yoon's private army, saying they had a legal obligation to protect the incumbent president.
