S. Korean protesters rally for and against Yoon's arrest as deadline looms

Thousands braved heavy snow in Seoul on Jan 5 to rally for and against the arrest of impeached President Yoon Suk Yeol, as South Korea's political crisis appeared headed towards another high-stakes confrontation.

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With an arrest warrant against Mr Yoon for alleged insurrection expiring at midnight on Jan 6, multiple groups held demonstrations near his official residence, some urging his immediate arrest and others protesting against it.

Mr Yoon became the country's first sitting president to face arrest over his botched attempt to declare martial law on Dec 3, 2024, which triggered a political storm that has engulfed Asia's fourth-largest economy and a key US ally.

The conservative president was impeached by Parliament and is suspended from official duties while a court decides whether to reinstate or remove him. On Jan 3, criminal investigators were blocked from arresting him by Mr Yoon's presidential security service and military troops in a six-hour stand-off.