South Korea’s impeached President Yoon Suk Yeol finally arrested for imposition of martial law

South Korea’s impeached President Yoon Suk Yeol was arrested by law enforcement officials on Jan 15 marking the first time in the country’s history that a sitting president has been detained.

The arrest, which follows a failed attempt earlier this month, comes as Yoon faces charges of insurrection over his imposition of a brief period of martial law last month.

In a pre-recorded message released by Yoon’s aides, the suspended president was quoted as saying by BBC, “Today, when I saw them invading the security perimeter with fire equipment, I decided to appear before the CIO, even though it is an illegal investigation,”

Yoon’s arrest represents a dramatic escalation in the political turmoil that has gripped South Korea since his impeachment. The embattled leader has been under investigation for allegedly overstepping his authority and attempting to suppress dissent by invoking martial law, which was widely condemned both domestically and internationally.

Yoon’s arrest ends drama

More than 1,000 anti-corruption investigators and police officers descended on the residence of South Korea’s impeached President Yoon Suk Yeol early Jan 15 to carry out a dramatic and unprecedented arrest. Law enforcement officials arrived at the compound prepared to face resistance, as three blockades had been set up around the residence to prevent them from entering.

However, after hours of careful maneuvering, the police managed to breach the barriers and entered the residential complex. Hundreds of officers then swept into the grounds of Yoon’s residence, executing the arrest warrant and detaining the embattled leader without further incident. The operation marked the first time in South Korean history that a sitting president has been arrested.

Earlier efforts to arrest Yoon

This wasn’t the first attempt to bring President Yoon into custody. On January 3, law enforcement officials had tried to execute an arrest warrant but were blocked by the Presidential Security Service (PSS) in a standoff that lasted over six hours.

During that earlier operation, police officers clashed with Yoon’s security detail outside the presidential residence in Seoul, resulting in the failure to detain the president. Authorities later called off the effort, citing concerns for their safety and describing the situation as “impossible” to continue. Despite that setback, the warrant remained in effect, and a second, more coordinated effort to arrest Yoon was ultimately successful on Wednesday.

Why was Yoon arrested?

Yoon Suk Yeol’s arrest follows his imposition of martial law on December 3, a move that sparked outrage and political turmoil across the country. The martial law declaration, which was intended to quell unrest, was swiftly overturned by parliament in an extraordinary vote, limiting its duration to only a few hours.

The opposition parties seized on the opportunity, launching an impeachment motion against the president. While the first attempt to impeach Yoon failed, the opposition succeeded on a second try, leading to his impeachment.

The Constitutional Court of South Korea is now deliberating on whether Yoon will be reinstated with full presidential powers or permanently removed from office. In the meantime, Yoon faces separate charges of insurrection, which have led to his arrest.

A South Korean court issued an arrest warrant against him in the last week of December, marking the beginning of his legal battle. As the court weighs Yoon’s future, the country watches closely, divided by the unprecedented arrest of its sitting leader.