The president's ultraconservative supporters believe that the country has been overrun by North Korea sympathizers conspiring to destroy South Korea's freedoms.

South Korean law enforcement officials have requested a court warrant to detain impeached President Yoon Suk Yeol as they investigate whether his short-lived martial law decree this month amounted to rebellion.

The impeached president faces an attempt by authorities to arrest him over his short-lived Dec. 3 martial law.