The dramatic arrest of South Korea’s ousted President Yoon Suk Yeol involving over 1,000 police officers
Yoon Suk Yeol becomes the first sitting president in South Korea’s history to be arrested, following weeks of escalating confrontation.
South Korea’s anti-corruption agency has confirmed the arrest of ousted President Yoon Suk Yeol. A convoy of black SUVs, some equipped with sirens, was seen leaving the presidential complex under heavy police escort.
The arrest occurred hours after hundreds of law enforcement officers entered the presidential complex in a second attempt to detain him following last month’s failed imposition of martial law.
Investigators from South Korea’s Corruption Investigation Office for High-Ranking Officials (CIO) entered the suspended president’s official residence in the capital, Seoul, to execute a new arrest warrant. Early Tuesday, investigators were negotiating with Yoon’s legal team.
One of Yoon’s lawyers stated that the former president had agreed to appear before the anti-corruption agency for questioning on Wednesday and was preparing a public statement. The lawyer also said Yoon was willing to travel to the agency’s headquarters in Gwacheon, provided that the investigators and police withdraw from his residence and appropriate security measures are ensured. It remains unclear whether the agency will accept this offer of voluntary questioning or insist on taking Yoon into custody directly.
A massive police operation involving 1,000 officers
South Korean authorities deployed approximately 1,000 police officers early Wednesday morning to the presidential residence in Seoul’s Yongsan district. Reports suggest that officers faced minimal resistance from the presidential security forces as they approached the compound.
No immediate clashes were reported. Yoon had been sheltering in the Hannam-dong residence for weeks, vowing to “fight until the end” against efforts to remove him from power.
Yoon defended his brief declaration of martial law on December 3 as a legitimate government response to what he described as “anti-state forces.” He has accused the opposition of using its legislative majority to sabotage his agenda and previously labeled them as “sympathizers of North Korea.”
Rebellion investigation underway
The anti-corruption agency is conducting a joint investigation with police and military officials to determine whether Yoon’s martial law declaration constituted an attempted rebellion.
Presidential immunity and its limits
As a sitting president, Yoon is granted immunity from criminal prosecution under South Korean law. However, this immunity does not cover serious charges such as rebellion or treason.
Yoon’s martial law decree lasted just six hours before being rescinded. The move triggered a massive political upheaval, halting high-level diplomacy, roiling financial markets, and sparking widespread protests calling for his resignation.