South Korea’s impeached President Yoon Suk Yeol was arrested Wednesday on rebellion charges related to his Dec. 3 martial law declaration, investigators said.
The Asian country’s anti-corruption agency confirmed that impeached Yoon was detained hours after hundreds of investigators and police officers arrived at his presidential compound to arrest him.
Yun, a former prosecutor who led the conservative People’s Power Party to election victory in 2022, said he had exercised leniency to avoid “bloodshed.”
Yun said in a statement, “When I saw them breaking into the security area using fire-fighting equipment today, I decided to respond to the CIO’s investigation, even if it is an illegal investigation, to prevent unpleasant bloodshed “
If found guilty of rebellion, Yun could face life imprisonment or even the death penalty.
Previous attempts to arrest Yun had failed
Yoon had avoided arrest for weeks by living in his residential compound guarded by members of the Presidential Security Service (PSS).
Yun’s guards had erected barbed wire and barricades, turning the residence into an opposition “fortress”.
The first attempt on January 3 failed and earlier on Wednesday, while trying to execute an arrest warrant for impeachment, authorities said they were stopped once again by presidential guards.
“Investigators are in a standoff with the Presidential Security Service after serving a search and detention warrant against Yoon,” the agency said.
The officers were at the president’s residence to execute an arrest warrant linked to the declaration of martial law in December.
Local news footage showed hundreds of police officers taking ladders and wire cutters to his mountain villa.
A witness told Reuters news agency that there were some minor clashes between his supporters who had gathered there and the authorities.
Conflict between government agencies creates tension
“The execution of the president’s arrest warrant has begun,” Acting President Choi Sang-mok said in a statement.
“This situation is a critical moment to maintain order and the rule of law in South Korea.”
If arrested, officers can detain Yoon for up to 48 hours on the existing warrant. They will have to apply for a second arrest warrant to keep him in custody for longer.
However, Yoon’s lawyers disputed the validity of the current warrant.
About 6,500 supporters of Yun gathered outside his official residence. Some ruling party lawmakers formed a human chain in an attempt to prevent Yoon’s arrest, Yonhap reported.
Investigators try for second time to detain Yoon
The Presidential Guard – who say it is their job to protect an impeached president – blocked investigators from arresting the South Korean leader earlier this month.
Yun’s declaration of martial law on December 3 as a possible means of attempting to remain in power, which would have left him facing arrest, imprisonment, and possibly the death penalty.
South Korea entered its worst political crisis in decades after Yun sent troops to attack the parliament.
rm, ss/jsi (Reuters, AP, dpa)