Investigators from the state anti-corruption agency in Seoul arrested South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol in a sedition case on Wednesday, Korean media reported.
The South Korean president was arrested at his Seoul residence after a two-hour standoff with his security detail. About 200 police officers and 40 investigators from the Corruption Investigation Office (CIO) were involved in the operation.
Yoon called his arrest a “voluntary appearance” to prevent “bloodshed” between law enforcement and his security service. In a video message recorded at his residence, Yoon emphasised that he believes the investigation is illegal. This is an unprecedented case in the country’s history of a sitting president being arrested by an investigative body.
Shortly before, security forces entered the presidential residence in Seoul to arrest Yoon. They had to overcome three lines of barricades. At the same time, Yoon’s lawyers negotiated with investigators about his voluntary appearance.
Investigators made their first attempt to arrest the South Korean president on January 3. Against this background, there were clashes between the military and law enforcement officers who arrived to arrest the head of state. On the same day, the execution of the arrest warrant was suspended for security reasons.
On December 31, a court in South Korea issued an arrest warrant for suspended President Yoon Suk Yeol. Investigators filed the warrant request after Yoon failed to show up for questioning three times in the martial law case. This marked the first time in South Korea’s history that an arrest warrant was issued against a president.
On December 27, members of South Korea’s parliament declared his impeachment.
