Suspended South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol was arrested on Wednesday for briefly imposing martial law in December, the official Yonhap news agency reported.
Police officers and personnel from South Korea’s Anti-Corruption Bureau escorted Yoon from his home on Wednesday morning to take him to the prosecutor’s office in their second attempt to do so, Yonhap said.
The operation appeared to go off peacefully, despite serious security concerns.
Quoting the Corruption Investigation Office for High-ranking Officials (CIO), the agency said the detention order was executed at 10:33 a.m. (0133 GMT).
This is the first time in the country’s history that a sitting president of South Korea has been arrested.
Yoon was seen entering the CIO headquarters for questioning. According to Yonhap, investigators would apply for a warrant to formally arrest the president within 48 hours.
“Although it is an illegal investigation, I have decided to appear before the CIO to avoid ugly bloodshed,” Yoon said in a recorded video message released after his arrest.
The Constitutional Court had postponed the first hearing in the impeachment proceedings against Yoon on Tuesday because he was not present. The 64-year-old had stated through his lawyer that he would not attend due to security concerns.
On December 3, Yoon briefly declared martial law during a budget dispute with the opposition.
In mid-December, lawmakers removed him from office until further notice on charges of abuse of power and sedition, with the Constitutional Court currently reviewing the decision.
Yoon has defended his decision, saying he declared martial law to protect the nation from “anti-state forces” – meaning his political opponents.
For the time being, former Finance Minister and Deputy Prime Minister Choi Sang Mok is responsible for state affairs.
Police officers gather outside the official residence of deposed South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol, after police and the Anti-Corruption Bureau began their second attempt to execute an arrest warrant against Yoon in connection with his short-lived imposition of state of siege. -/YNA/dpa
Police officers gather outside the official residence of deposed South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol, after police and the Anti-Corruption Bureau began their second attempt to execute an arrest warrant against Yoon in connection with his short-lived imposition of state of siege. -/YNA/dpa