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.
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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.
Han, who was prime minister, took over as acting president
after Yeol was ousted.
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