Ousted South Korean President Yoon leaves official residence

He and his wife were driven in a motorcade from the official presidential residence to their private apartment in a 37-storey building in Seoul’s Seocho district, where hundreds more Yoon champions were waiting to welcome him home, some clutching flowers.

“Mr and Mrs President, thank you for your service – from the residents’ association,” read a banner near the entrance to his apartment complex.

“I would vote for him again if I had to, but I am worried about the security,” said one of his neighbours, who gave only her surname Lee.

“Last time, the security and separate elevators were annoying. Also what is he going to do with all his pets?” she told AFP. 

The ex-president currently has 11 cats and dogs.

The ousted president has not been seen in public since he was released from prison on Mar 8 when a court cancelled his detention warrant in the criminal case against him. He did not attend the impeachment ruling by the Constitutional Court on Apr 4.

But a number of his ruling party members and supporters have been seen visiting the official residence where Yoon reportedly discussed the upcoming election.

As he left the official residence, Yoon donned a red baseball cap saying “Make Korea Great Again” given to him by a supporter, video footage showed.

“Now I will go back to being one of the people … and find a new way for the country and the people,” Yoon said in a written message relayed via his lawyer.