South Korean police arrest impeached president Yoon Suk Yeol over his martial law disaster

Impeached South Korean leader Yoon Suk Yeol was arrested on Wednesday for his failed martial law quest, capping a weeks-long standoff with authorities and making him the country's first president to be jailed.

'Yoon Suk Yeol.'

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Yoon, who is facing insurgency charges for his brief attempt to establish martial law last month, said he would cooperate with authorities to avoid "bloodshed".

Yoon, a former prosecutor who led the conservative People Power Party (PPP) to victory in the 2022 elections, faces the death sentence or life in prison if convicted of rebellion.

He had been attempting to avoid arrest for weeks by remaining in his residential complex, guarded by officers of the Presidential Security Service (PSS) who had remained loyal to him.

His guards had erected barbed wire and barriers around the house, transforming it into a "fortress" as described by the opposition.

Yoon, who had pledged to "fight to the end," was able to resist a first arrest attempt on January 3 after a tense hours-long standoff between guards and anti-graft investigators working with police.

However, before daybreak on Wednesday, hundreds of police officers and Corruption Investigation Office detectives surrounded the mansion once more, with some scaling outer walls and going up back paths to access the main structure.

After a five-hour standoff, officials revealed Yoon's arrest and the impeached leader issued a pre-recorded video statement.

"I decided to respond to the Corruption Investigation Office," Yoon said in the message, adding that he did not accept the validity of the inquiry but was responding "to prevent any unfortunate bloodshed".

Yoon was driven from his home in a motorcade to the Corruption Investigation Office's offices.

According to Yonhap, investigators began questioning Yoon immediately after he was arrested.

AFP reporters had previously observed brief scuffles at the residence's gate, where Yoon's ardent fans had gathered to protect him, when officials initially moved on the premises.

His supporters were heard yelling "illegal warrant!" as they waved light sticks, South Korean and American flags. Some lay on the ground outside the main gate of the residential property.

Recalcitrant

Yoon stunned the nation late on December 3 when he announced martial rule, stating he needed to protect South Korea "from the threats posed by North Korea's communist forces and eliminate anti-state elements".

He sent troops to parliament, but members ignored them and voted against martial law. Yoon lifted martial law after only six hours.

Yoon can be kept for up to 48 hours after his arrest. To hold him in custody, investigators would need to get another arrest warrant.

Yoon's legal team has repeatedly called the warrant unconstitutional.

His ruling party also claimed that Wednesday's detention was unconstitutional.

"History will inevitably record the fact that the CIO and the police executed an unjust and illegal warrant," PPP floor leader Kweon Seong-dong told a party meeting, apologising to Yoon’s supporters.

In a parallel investigation, the Constitutional Court opened a trial on Tuesday to determine on Yoon's impeachment by parliament.

If the court upholds the impeachment, Yoon would eventually lose the president, and new elections must be held within 60 days.

The trial was deferred on Tuesday after only a brief hearing because Yoon failed to appear. The next hearing is scheduled for Thursday, however the proceedings might stretch months.

South Korea's opposition Democratic Party applauded Yoon's detention, with floor leader Park Chan-dae stating at a party gathering that it was "the first step" toward restoring constitutional and legal order after weeks of unrest.

The country's parliament speaker mirrored these comments.

"Now that the chaotic situation has ended, we should concentrate our efforts on stabilising state affairs and restoring people's livelihoods," said Woo Won-shik, a Korean politician. FA