On Wednesday, South Korean authorities arrested impeached President Yoon Suk Yeol on charges of insurrection. The beleaguered leader stated his willingness to cooperate with what he characterized as an unlawful investigation, asserting that he sought to prevent potential violence.
This arrest marks a historical precedent as it is the first instance of an incumbent president being apprehended, signaling a significant shift in one of Asia’s most dynamic democracies, despite the nation’s prior occurrences of prosecuting and incarcerating former leaders.
Yoon had been sequestered at his hillside residence, under the protection of a sizable personal security detail that had previously thwarted an attempt to arrest him. This situation arose after lawmakers voted to impeach him following his short-lived declaration of martial law on December 3.
In light of the escalating circumstances, he asserted, "I decided to respond to the CIO’s investigation – despite it being an illegal investigation – to prevent unsavoury bloodshed," referencing the Corruption Investigation Office for High-rankiunsavoryals (CIO) that is conducting the inquiry.
Subsequently, the president was observed departing his residence in a motorcade and arriving at the CIO offices for questioning.
According to statements made by his legal representatives, the arrest warrant was deemed unlawful as it was issued by a court lacking jurisdiction, and the investigative body had no legitimate authority to carry out the inquiry.
Reports indicate that Yoon’s martial law declaration had a profound impact, unsettling the South Korean public, destabilizing the economy, and initiating an unparalleled period of political upheaval. It is noteworthy that lawmakers voted to impeach and remove him from his duties on December 14.