SEOUL:On Wednesday, Yoon Suk Yeol, the impeached South Korean president, was arrested over his failed attempt to impose martial law, ending a weeks-long standoff with authorities. This marks the first time in South Korea’s history that a sitting president has been detained.
Yoon faces insurrection charges following his brief attempt to enforce martial law last month. To avoid “bloodshed,” he stated he would cooperate with investigators. If convicted, Yoon could face the death penalty or life imprisonment.
The former prosecutor, who led the conservative People Power Party (PPP) to victory in the 2022 elections, had been evading arrest by staying within his residence, guarded by loyal members of the Presidential Security Service (PSS). The residence, fortified with barbed wire and barricades, was dubbed a “fortress” by opposition parties.
Yoon had previously thwarted an arrest attempt on January 3, following a tense standoff between his guards and anti-graft investigators. However, before dawn on Wednesday, investigators presented a fresh arrest warrant. Despite efforts to block their entry, including cutting barbed wire and bypassing barricades, authorities eventually entered the compound.
After about five hours, Yoon was arrested, and a pre-recorded message was released in which he expressed his compliance to avoid violence, despite questioning the legality of the investigation.
Yoon was taken to the Corruption Investigation Office (CIO), where he initially exercised his right to remain silent during questioning. He refused to be filmed. Later, he was transferred to a detention center.
Outside the CIO, a man set himself on fire in protest, later succumbing to his injuries in the hospital.
In a Facebook post written during his time in hiding, Yoon repeated claims of election fraud and mentioned threats from “hostile” nations, likely referring to North Korea. As authorities moved in, his supporters clashed with police, protesting the arrest and chanting “illegal warrant!” while waving flags.
