Hundreds of South Korean protesters clashed with each other today in front of the official residence of the deposed president in Seoul, Young Suk Yeol, with some demanding his immediate detention and others calling for his protection in the face of the risk of his arrest.

Facing an arrest warrant against him, Yoon Suk Yeol, aged 64, remains confined to his home, vowing to “fight to the end” against authorities who want to question him about his failed attempt to impose martial law.

Since the Dec. 3 coup, Yun has shown no remorse, and his systematic refusal to submit to investigators’ questions has raised fears that an attempt to arrest him would cause violent incidents, further exacerbating the deep crisis facing Asia’s fourth-largest economy.

Supporters of Yoon in front of his home call for his impeachment to be annulled

Hundreds of loyal supporters of Yun, including far-right YouTube stars and evangelical leaders, gathered in front of his home in Seoul, facing anti-Yun protesters and police riot control units.

A woman fell in front of a police bus with her arms stretched across the windshield. Other supporters of the deposed Yun lay on the street, eyes closed and arms crossed, as police attempted to remove them.

Park Shi-dong, a 74-year-old protester, told Agence France-Presse that he went there to “fight to the death to save liberal democracy,” arguing that Yun’s imposition of martial law was justified and that he should not be removed.

“Invalid removal!” chanted the protesters, who carried South Korean flags.

“Yoon Suk Yeol, we are protecting you! We protect you!” were also among the chants heard.

Dozens of people streamed the protests online on YouTube, AFP reporters observed.

Opposition reacts to protests

Yesterday, Yun sent a message to his most extreme supporters in front of his residence, telling them he was watching them on YouTube and urging them to help him “defend democracy” and “fight to the end.”

The opposition and experts have criticized this action, which they saw as an attempt to mobilize more extreme protesters who could cause riots.

But supporters of Yoon, including 63-year-old Kim Sangbae, said they would not leave the area as they are determined to “stop the injustice” represented by the arrest of a sitting president, unprecedented in South Korean history.

A pro-Yun protester was arrested for obstructing police, South Korean media reported.

The arrest warrant was illegal, Yoon’s lawyers argued, and his security team refused to comply with recently issued search warrants.

The president himself ignored subpoenas from the Corruption Investigation Bureau three times, leading investigators to issue an arrest warrant.

Supporters of Yoon hit counter-protesters

Nearby, hundreds of anti-Yun protesters staged a counter-demonstration, singing the national anthem as dozens of riot police barely kept the two rival camps at bay.

Yun’s critics were “hit on the head and repeatedly attacked” by the rival camp while trying to hold a news conference, according to one of them, 46-year-old Bae Hun.

“I had the feeling that if we stayed five minutes longer, a serious incident would happen,” he added, explaining that police attempted to intervene but were outnumbered.

“The pro-Yun crowd was suffocating, with about 500 to 600 people surrounding us… until the first insults and attacks,” Bae described.