As South Korea's impeached president Yoon awaits fate

9/1/2025 16:53

A prolonged period of uncertainty over the fate of impeached South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol and the botched attempt to arrest him are giving oxygen to his backers and reviving support for his troubled party.



Yoon has for weeks been holed up inside his hill top residence in Seoul, guarded by a small army of personal security.



A National Barometer Survey poll released Thursday showed 59% of respondents want him arrested, something investigators are determined to do even though they failed last week after a widely televised six-hour standoff with his security. But 37% said arresting Yoon is excessive.



A similar split fell in favour of the Constitutional Court to permanently remove him.



Analysts say the prospects of Yoon making a return to office are unclear but the hiatus has emboldened his loyal supporters, scores of whom braved sub-zero temperatures to gather near his residence on Thursday morning.



The weeks since Yoon's impeachment have also seen a recovery in support for his ruling People Power Party (PPP) which some analysts say shows signs conservatives are uniting to fight a possible presidential election later this year.