On Wednesday, the anti-corruption agency of South Korea detained President Yoon Suk Yeol following weeks of political upheaval triggered by his controversial martial law declaration. This marks the first occasion of a sitting South Korean president being detained while in office.
Yoon, who had been sheltered in his secure residence with the aid of the Presidential Security Service, departed his compound in a motorcade early Wednesday morning. The apprehension comes after a warrant was issued by the Corruption Investigation Office (CIO), which has charged Yoon with several crimes, including insurrection—an action that carries a sentence of life in prison or the death penalty.
The political saga began on December 3, when Yoon unexpectedly declared martial law, citing a parliamentary deadlock that he claimed had paralyzed governance. He defended the decree as a means to safeguard South Korea’s democratic framework from “anti-state elements.” Nonetheless, the action faced swift condemnation from legislators, even from his own party members, as well as from the public, since it stirred recollections of South Korea’s repressive history. The National Assembly swiftly overturned the declaration within hours, further isolating Yoon politically.
The CIO had made several attempts to question Yoon, issuing three summonses that he ignored. Earlier this month, an initial effort to detain him ended in a standoff, with soldiers and security personnel blocking investigators from approaching the presidential residence.
In a pre-recorded video released after his arrest, Yoon dismissed the investigations as politically motivated and accused authorities of undermining the country’s legal system. “As a president who must protect the constitution and the legal order, I resist these unlawful actions to prevent bloodshed,” Yoon said.
Yoon’s detention allows investigators to hold him for up to 48 hours. The CIO must seek an arrest warrant during this period to continue detaining him.
Public reactions have been polarized, with groups of supporters and opponents gathering near Yoon’s residence despite freezing temperatures. Videos from local media showed demonstrators chanting slogans such as “resign” and “your time is up,” while supporters called for his reinstatement, labeling the impeachment “invalid.”
Yoon’s martial law declaration has plunged the country into political chaos. Parliament voted to impeach him shortly after his decree, stripping him of presidential powers. The Constitutional Court is now tasked with determining whether Yoon will be formally removed from office. The impeachment trial began Tuesday but was adjourned after four minutes when Yoon failed to appear. The trial is set to resume Thursday, with or without his attendance.
Adding to the instability, parliament also impeached Prime Minister Han Duck-soo, who had been acting president since Yoon’s suspension. Finance Minister Choi Sang-mok is now the interim leader.
The Constitutional Court has promised to prioritize the impeachment cases against Yoon and other members of his administration, including the justice minister and senior officials. The unfolding crisis has left South Korea in a state of political uncertainty, with its leadership and governance hanging in the balance.