Yoon defiant as investigators say he will be arrested by Monday

South Korean investigators said on Jan 1 that they would execute an arrest warrant for President Yoon Suk Yeol over his declaration of martial law by the deadline of Jan 6, as the impeached leader's supporters rallied outside his residence.

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Supporters and opponents of Mr Yoon - who was suspended from office by lawmakers over his attempt to subvert civilian rule in December - have been camped outside the compound where he has been holed up for weeks, fending off investigators' efforts to question him.

The Corruption Investigation Office (CIO) requested the warrant after Mr Yoon failed to report for questioning a third time. But it has been unclear whether it could execute it, as the Presidential Security Service has previously refused to comply with search warrants.

Mr Yoon has remained defiant and late on Jan 1 appeared to suggest he would refuse to hand himself over in a statement shared with supporters camped outside his residence in Seoul.

"The Republic of Korea is currently in danger due to internal and external forces threatening its sovereignty and the activities of anti-state elements," he said in the statement, his lawyer confirmed.

"I vow to fight alongside you to the very end to protect this nation," he added, saying he was watching the hundreds-strong protest on a YouTube live stream.