South Korean president Yoon Suk Yeol arrested
15 January 2025
South Korean president Yoon Suk Yeol has been arrested over his brief imposition of martial law in December 2024.
Yoon was taken into custody at 10.33am on January 15 (Korean time) following insurrection allegations over his attempt to impose martial law last year.
He is the first sitting Korean president to be detained.
Police and investigators from South Korea's Corruption Investigation Office (CIO) arrived at the presidential residence in Yongsan, central Seoul at around 4.20am this morning (Korean time). They were met by members of Yoon’s presidential security service who, according to local reporting, set up barricades to try and prevent them from entering.
CIO investigators and police then reportedly scaled walls and used ladders to enter the grounds.
READ MORE:
South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol taken into custody over martial law - The Korea Herald
Rallies for, against attempt to detain Yoon take place outside presidential residence - Yonhap
Yoon has been taken to the CIO headquarters in Gwancheon, south of Seoul, where he will be questioned. Before leaving the presidential residence, he released a pre-recorded video statement, saying he would comply with the CIO to prevent "bloodshed".
"After seeing [investigators] using firefighting equipment to invade a secure area today, I've decided to accept the CIO's investigation - even though it is illegal - to prevent disgraceful bloodshed. But I do not accept investigation by the CIO," he said.
The standoff came just hours after Yoon failed to appear in the first hearing of his impeachment trial.
This was the second attempt to arrest Yoon: on January 3, investigators from the CIO were blocked by Yoon’s security staff when they arrived at the presidential residence. In that instance, around 150 investigators and police faced a tense standoff with roughly 200 presidential security service staff before withdrawing.
The Asia Media Centre has been following this story since Yoon's initial declaration of martial law. Read more about the situation here:
Political Crisis Deepens in S. Korea
Korea's Dark History of Martial Law
Yoon Suk Yeol Shakes the Foundations of South Korean Democracy
Impeachment against South Korean president Yoon Suk Yeol fails
Banner image: President Yoon Suk Yeol delivers a speech at his office on Dec. 7 (Image: Presidential Office)
Asia Media Centre