South Korea’s suspended president, Yoon Suk Yeol, was detained on Wednesday morning after briefly imposing martial law in December, according to the official Yonhap news agency.
Police officers and staff from the country’s anti-corruption office escorted Yoon from his residence to the public prosecutor’s office in what was the second attempt to carry out the detention. Yonhap reported that the operation appeared to be peaceful despite heightened security concerns.
The Corruption Investigation Office for High-ranking Officials (CIO) confirmed that the detention warrant was executed at 10:33 am (0133 GMT), marking a significant moment in South Korea’s history. This is the first time a sitting president has been arrested in the country.
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Yoon was seen entering the CIO headquarters for questioning, with investigators reportedly planning to seek a formal arrest warrant within 48 hours. In a recorded video message following his arrest, Yoon stated, “Although it is an illegal investigation, I decided to agree to appear at the CIO in order to prevent ugly bloodshed.”
The political turmoil surrounding Yoon escalated when the Constitutional Court postponed the first hearing of his impeachment proceedings on Tuesday, citing his absence. Yoon, aged 64, explained his non-attendance through his lawyer, citing security concerns.
The controversy stems from an incident on December 3, 2024, when Yoon declared martial law in response to a budget dispute with opposition lawmakers. This action led to his temporary removal from office in mid-December on charges of abuse of power and sedition. The Constitutional Court is still reviewing the legality of his removal.
In defence of his decision, Yoon maintained that the martial law was declared to protect the nation from what he described as anti-state forces—his political adversaries. Until further developments, Choi Sang Mok, the former finance minister and deputy prime minister, is overseeing state affairs in Yoon’s absence.
