South Korean President Arrested: About a Thousand Law Enforcement Officers Participated in Operation

South Korean President Yun Seok-yul has been arrested on the second attempt. In December, parliament impeached him for planning to impose martial law in the country. The president said he had voluntarily agreed to appear for questioning, writes Air force

Photo: IStock

It was the first time in South Korean history that a sitting president had been arrested, even though he had been suspended from office. After an hours-long standoff at the presidential residence, investigators were able to bring Yoon in for questioning at the Corruption Investigation Bureau, which deals with misdeeds by top officials.

Shortly before dawn on January 15, a team of investigators armed with ladders and bolt cutters arrived at the presidential residence in central Seoul to overcome a barricade of buses blocking the entrance and cut the barbed wire.

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About a thousand law enforcement officers came to arrest the president. A few hours later, the authorities announced that Yun had been arrested.

Shortly before this, the president published a video address in which he stated that he still considered his arrest illegal, but in order to avoid bloodshed, he decided to submit to investigators and the police.

"Even though it is illegal, I decided to report to the Corruption Investigation Bureau to prevent unnecessary bloodshed. But that does not mean I agree with them opening the case," Yun said.

He noted that the rule of law was being violated in the country and that neither the investigative bodies that opened the case against him nor the court that issued the arrest warrant had the authority to do so.

Attempt to impose martial law and impeachment

In early December, the South Korean president continued his fight against the opposition, which had gained control of parliament, using radical means.

He unsuccessfully attempted to impose martial law in the country. After that, the parliament accused him of attempted rebellion and on December 14, the head of state was impeached.

Yoon has been removed from the presidency, but impeachment must be approved by the Constitutional Court to remove him from office. Until the court makes a decision, Yoon Seok-yeol officially remains president.

In early December, the head of state rejected accusations of attempted rebellion and said the introduction of martial law was a "politically calculated decision." He took it to protect the state from the opposition, which, he said, was paralyzing the government.

Investigators first attempted to arrest Yun on January 3, but were prevented from doing so by the president's security detail. After several hours of standoff, investigators and police left his residence.

Yun hid there for the next few days. The second time, investigators and police arrived at around 4:20 a.m. local time, and it wasn't until half past ten that the Corruption Investigation Bureau announced that they had "arrested Yun on a warrant."

Both supporters and opponents of Yun gathered at the residence. About a thousand police officers from different sides slowly made their way into the residence through barricades and a barrier of deputies from the ruling presidential party. They managed to enter the building only after nine in the morning.

There were then long negotiations, presumably about the form of Yun's appearance for interrogation. He wanted his appearance to be officially considered voluntary, but the Bureau publicly stated that the president should still be officially arrested.

Opposition Democratic Party leader Park Chang-dae said Yoon's arrest was evidence that justice in South Korea works.

“This is the first step towards restoring constitutional order, democracy and the rule of law,” Pak said.

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As the BBC's Seoul correspondent Shaimaa Khalil notes, Yoon's arrest will not end the political crisis, but will most likely become its next phase.

By law, investigators can now hold Yun for two days, during which they must either obtain a court's consent to detain the president pending trial or release him.

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