South Korean media: Yoon Suk-yeol's arrest warrant is expiring soon, thousands of South Korean citizens are wrapped in blankets and holding a rally in the snow

SEOUL, South Korea — Tensions over what could be a major turning point in the country's recent history were building Monday, even though the main players are staying off the streets, as supporters and opponents of President Yoon Suk-yeol rallied near his official residence amid heavy snowfall. Both sides used the snow to their advantage, wearing metallic thermal blankets to keep warm.

Supporters and opponents of Yoon face off in front of the presidential residence on Jan. 9, 2023, a day after an arrest warrant for the South Korean leader expired.

Yoon's arrest warrant was set to expire at midnight. His supporters said they would not attend any of the planned gatherings in an effort to keep tensions low. In the previous two days, the rallies ended in violence and arrests.

Opposition demonstrators and their supporters, who began gathering in the early afternoon to demand that Yoon be arrested and sent to trial for misconduct as a prosecutor, arrived in freezing temperatures and used metallic thermal blankets as protective gear.

The temperature in central Seoul was just 2 degrees Fahrenheit (minus 17 degrees Celsius) on Monday, and snow began falling late Sunday.

"We want to demand the arrest of Yoon and send the message to him that he must leave the presidential residence by tomorrow, Jan. 9," said a representative from a group called Yoon Must Resign Now.

Supporters and opponents of Yoon engaged in heated "moral education" by shouting slogans at each other. Supporters chanted, "Yoon, we love you," or "Yoon, Yoon, the more you're pushed, the stronger you become." Their opponents chanted, "Yoon, be arrested tomorrow," and "Arrest him."