Impeached South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol has been detained by investigators from the state anti-corruption agency, after month-long standoff.
This marked a historic moment, as Yoon became the first sitting South Korean president to be arrested.
Previous attempts to arrest him after his impeachment proved abortive.
However, Investigators on Wednesday morning took him into custody from his residence, following a tense standoff between his personal security detail and state authorities.
He was then driven away in a motorcade to be taken into custody.
Yoon faces charges of declaring martial law and inciting insurrection, a serious offenses that carry severe penalties, including life imprisonment or potentially the death penalty.
In a three-minute video released just before his arrest, the 64-year-old leader said he would co-operate with the investigators, while repeating previous claims that the warrant was not legally valid.
He said: “I decided to appear before the CIO, even though it is an illegal investigation, in order to prevent any unsavoury bloodshed.”
The arrest warrant permits investigators to detain him for a maximum of 48 hours.
To extend his detention, the Corruption Investigation Office(CIO) will be required to obtain an additional warrant.
Persecondnews recalls that Yoon on December 3, 2024, 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, civil rights are suspended, and military law takes over, typically in response to emergencies.
The declaration marked a stark turning point in South Korea, being the first imposition of martial law in over 40 years.
The move sparked widespread outrage among lawmakers and the public, prompting a rapid escalation of tensions as military forces surrounded the national assembly.
This led to him being impeached by the South Korean National Assembly on December 14, 2024.
His presidential powers and duties were immediately suspended, awaiting the Constitutional Court’s decision, which is expected within 180 days.
The court will either remove him from office or reinstate his presidential powers.
Just two weeks after Yoon’s impeachment, South Korea’s parliament voted to impeach Han Duck-soo, the acting president.
Han, formerly the prime minister, had taken over as acting president following Yeol’s ousting.
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