Thousands of wreaths of yellow, red and white flowers brighten up the perimeter wall of the president's office in the Yongsan district, in the heart of Seoul. Sent to the conservative president, Yoon Suk Yeol, they are adorned with soft pink ribbons calling on him to "stand firm" and proclaiming "unwavering solidarity" with "our beloved leader."

Out of respect for democratic debate or fear of a security service on its toes, nobody has vandalized these offerings sent from all over Korea by individuals, anonymous or not, and evangelical churches. The latter are staunch supporters of the president, who has been in the eye of the storm since his aborted declaration of martial law on December 3 to counter an obscure North Korean threat and muzzle a National Assembly he considers to be in Communist hands. Yoon has been banned from traveling abroad, faces life imprisonment or even the death penalty for treason and insurrection, and is under threat of impeachment, which could be voted on December 14.

Credited with a popularity rating of just 11%, the president nevertheless remains determined "to [fight] alongside the people to the end," as he reiterated in a televised address on December 12. The former prosecutor said that "the exercise of the president's right to declare martial law is an act of government that is not subject to judicial review, as is the case with presidential pardons or diplomatic powers."

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