Glacial winds cut through Hannam-dong, an upscale neighbourhood in central Seoul home to the official residence of impeached President Yoon Suk-yeol, where a single invisible boundary divides thousands of demonstrators braving sub-zero temperatures.
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On the other, Yoon’s supporters are standing firm, ready to shield him from authorities investigating charges of insurrection and abuse of power.
The Corruption Investigation Office for High-ranking Officials (CIO) made its first attempt to enter the compound on January 3, but was thwarted by about 200 of the president’s bodyguards. Officials insist they will return, with a larger force of 1,000 investigators and police officers, for a second attempt at arresting Yoon.
Talks have centred on holding security personnel legally accountable for blocking that initial raid, but presidential security chief Park Chong-jun resigned on Friday before he could face questioning.
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Against this tense backdrop, the sprawling protests reveal an unmistakable generational divide.