South Korean President Yoon Suk-yeol was arrested at 10:33 a.m. on Jan. 15 on charges of leading an insurrection. Shortly after his arrest, Yoon boarded a security vehicle heading to the Corruption Investigation Office for High-ranking Officials (CIO) at the Government Complex Gwacheon in Gyeonggi-do (Province).
News of Yoon’s arrest quickly spread, eliciting contrasting reactions outside the presidential residence in Hannam-dong, Yongsan District. Pro-Yoon demonstrators wept and expressed outrage, while anti-Yoon protesters celebrated, chanting and exclaiming, “Congratulations on the arrest!” The scene outside the residence turned into a mixture of grief, anger, and celebration.
At around 10:49 a.m., tensions escalated as pro-Yoon supporters pushed against barricades set up by police near the residential compound. One woman protested angrily, questioning how they could remove what she called “the greatest diplomatic president of S. Korea.” Meanwhile, some supporters argued among themselves about whether to stay near the residence or head to the CIO headquarters.
As word spread that Yoon’s vehicle was en route to the CIO, some supporters attempted to follow the motorcade, stepping onto the roadway and causing disruptions. Meanwhile, anti-Yoon protesters chanted “Arrest him!” and, upon confirmation of his detention, celebrated with cheers and music. One protester yelled, “Now it’s Kim Keon-hee’s turn,” referring to Yoon’s wife, and added, “Let’s push for Yoon’s impeachment!”
Pro-Yoon demonstrators shouted insults, calling their opponents “communist” and accusing them of “selling out the country.” Anti-Yoon protesters retorted, calling Yoon’s supporters “pro-Japanese lackeys” and yelling, “Go find your president somewhere else!”
At 10:53 a.m., Seok Dong-hyun, a lawyer handling Yoon’s media responses, addressed the crowd. He explained that the president had decided to voluntarily appear before the CIO after learning that civilians had been injured during the police operation. Seok also reassured supporters who had stayed awake for days to protect the president, telling them they had not lost. His remarks drew cheers from pro-Yoon demonstrators.
Shortly after 11 a.m., a pre-recorded video of Yoon was played for his supporters. In the video, Yoon explained his decision: “Seeing the police use firefighting equipment to break into the security zone, I chose to appear before the CIO to prevent any unfortunate bloodshed.” Upon hearing this, a woman collapsed to her knees, sobbing. Others wiped away tears, while one supporter shouted, “Stay strong, Mr. President!”
As the morning wore on, pro-Yoon demonstrators lingered in the area, appearing uncertain about their next steps. Some began packing away flags, including the S. Korean and American flags they had been holding. One supporter proposed traveling to the CIO by subway, saying, “If we shout loud enough outside the commission, they won’t be able to conduct a proper investigation.”
By the afternoon, the demonstration site near the presidential residence, which had been occupied by pro-Yoon supporters since Dec. 30, began to clear out.
