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South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol has been arrested for questioning by the anti-corruption agency.
Yeol was impeached by parliament on December 14 following his botched martial law declaration. His presidential powers and duties have since been suspended pending the ruling from the constitutional court — which has up to 180 days to dismiss Yeol as president or restore his powers.
Previous attempts to arrest Yeol after his impeachment proved abortive.
On Wednesday morning, Yeol was picked up from his residence by investigators after a stand-off that pitted his security details against those of the state.
He was then driven in a motorcade to be taken into custody. It would be the first time a sitting South Korean president has been arrested.
The warrant allows investigators to hold Yeol for up to 48 hours. The Corruption Investigation Office (CIO) would need to apply for another warrant to detain him further.
Yeol’s supporters and opponents clashed at the scene of the arrest, with each group baying for the other’s jugular. Police officers had to cordon off the street to prevent a breakdown of law and order.
Yeol is accused of martial law declaration and leading an insurrection — a crime punishable by life imprisonment or even the death penalty.
After his arrest, Yeol released a pre-recorded message to say “the law is all broken in this country”.
“As a president who must protect the constitution and legal system of the Republic of Korea, responding to these illegal and invalid procedures is not an acknowledgment of them, but in the hopes of preventing unsavoury bloodshed,” he said.
On December 3, the president declared martial law during a televised address, accusing the opposition Democratic Party of engaging in “anti-state activities” and collaborating with North Korean factions to undermine the government.
When martial law is declared, there is a suspension of civil rights and the imposition of military law. This typically happens during emergencies.
The declaration marked the first instance of martial law in South Korea in over 40 years. It was met with backlash from lawmakers and the public.
The situation escalated quickly, with military forces surrounding the national assembly.
On December 27, South Korea’s parliament voted to impeach Han Duck-soo, its acting president — two weeks after it voted to impeach Yeol.
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Han, who was prime minister, took over as acting president after Yeol was ousted.
Pascal Arogorn Ibe
