South Korea: South Korean investigators have taken the country’s impeached President Yoon Suk-yeol into custody, accusing him of insurrection after his short-lived declaration of martial law, which was swiftly overturned by the National Assembly.
The Joint Investigation Headquarters carried out the arrest warrant for President Yoon Suk-yeol today, January 15, making him the first sitting president in South Korea’s history to be arrested. Authorities confirmed this in a statement on Wednesday.
In a prerecorded video message shared after his arrest, Yoon defended his decision to cooperate with the investigation, stating it was to avoid "bloodshed." “I chose to respond to the Corruption Investigation Office,” Yoon said, though he maintained that he did not recognize the legitimacy of the inquiry.
Authorities faced initial resistance from Yoon’s Presidential Security Service, which used vehicles to block the entrance to his residence. Investigators and police eventually used ladders to enter the premises and execute the arrest.
The situation has sparked widespread protests across Seoul. Thousands of South Koreans, both supporters and critics of Yoon, held rival demonstrations outside the presidential residence and on major roads in the capital, either demanding his arrest or invalidation of his impeachment.
After his arrest, Yoon’s presidential motorcade, escorted by police, was seen leaving his residence. He was later taken to the Corruption Investigation Office for High-Ranking Officials in Gwacheon.
The arrest occurred just hours after Yoon failed to attend the first hearing of his impeachment trial related to the martial law declaration on December 3. Reports indicate that around 1,000 police officers were involved in the operation. Investigators can hold Yoon for up to 48 hours before deciding whether to seek a formal detention warrant.
Yoon’s impeachment trial continues to unfold, with the Constitutional Court stating his presence is required for proceedings. Meanwhile, his lawyers have described the initial warrant as “unlawful” and “illegal,” vowing to pursue further legal measures.
If convicted of insurrection, Yoon faces severe penalties, including a potential prison sentence or even the death penalty. His failed martial law decree has thrown South Korea into its most significant political turmoil in decades.
Over 1,000 anti-corruption investigators and police officers swarmed the home of South Korea's impeached President Yoon Suk Yeol early Wednesday in a dramatic operation that ended with his arrest. The law enforcement team arrived at the scene ready for confrontation, as multiple blockades had been erected around the property to hinder their entry.