SEOUL, South Korea — On Wednesday, the impeached South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol was taken to a detention facility near Seoul following an extensive interrogation related to his recent declaration of martial law. His questioning by the anti-corruption agency lasted roughly ten hours after law enforcement officials had earlier detained him at his presidential residence.
Yoon, notably the first sitting president in South Korea to face such legal action, strongly contested the authority of the anti-corruption agency to investigate him but insisted he complied with their inquiries to avoid possible violence. He is now confronted with serious charges, which could lead to a lengthy prison sentence for rebellion. In a video statement recorded shortly before his transfer to the anti-corruption agency, Yoon expressed his belief that the nation’s rule of law had completely deteriorated.
For weeks, Yoon had remained isolated in his residence in Hannam-dong, where he declared he would “fight to the end” against efforts to remove him from office. He defended his martial law declaration from December 3 as an essential measure to counter an “anti-state” opposition party that was using its legislative majority to obstruct his agenda. The Corruption Investigation Office stated that Yoon was taken into custody approximately five hours after investigators attempted entry to the presidential compound, succeeding on their second try.
As police escort vehicles left the compound, Yoon was spotted exiting a vehicle upon arrival at the anti-corruption agency’s office in Gwacheon. Meanwhile, hundreds of Yoon’s supporters gathered outside the agency, proclaiming their allegiance with slogans like, “We will fight alongside President Yoon Suk Yeol.” A serious incident occurred nearby when an unidentified individual was reported in critical condition following an apparent self-immolation.
Yoon’s potential custody could extend for weeks or even longer. The anti-corruption agency has a deadline of 48 hours to seek a court order for formal arrest. If they do not request such an order, Yoon will be released; however, if arrested, he may remain in detention for up to 20 days before the case is handed over to prosecutors. Should charges of rebellion and misuse of power be brought against him, he may stay in custody until an initial court ruling, typically within a six-month period. Under South Korean law, a convicted leader of rebellion risks facing the death penalty or life imprisonment.
Previously, Yoon’s defense minister, police chief, and several senior military officials were detained for their roles in implementing martial law. A detention warrant issued by the Seoul Western District Court cited significant grounds to believe Yoon acted as a “ringleader of a rebellion.” During his questioning, the anti-corruption agency reported that Yoon invoked his right to remain silent.
Yoon was impeached by parliament on December 14, which suspended his presidential powers. The ongoing case now resides with the Constitutional Court, which is deliberating whether to formally remove him from office or to reinstate him.
After his detention, Yoon communicated on Facebook that “martial law is not a crime,” claiming it was vital to highlight the actions of an opposition that he accused of “legislative dictatorship” through the blocking of crucial laws and state funding. He categorically denied charges of rebellion and branded his impeachment process as fraudulent.
The day began with a significant law enforcement effort in the early morning, which turned into an hours-long standoff between investigators and presidential security forces at the compound. Some police officers were witnessed cutting through barbed wire set up by security to block access, while others navigated physical barriers in order to reach the area surrounding Yoon’s residence.
In a statement issued earlier, South Korea’s acting leader, Deputy Prime Minister Choi Sang-mok, urged all parties involved to avoid physical confrontation during the detention process. Following the operation, Choi met with representatives from the Group of Seven nations, including the United States and Japan, to reassure them of the government’s stability.
Meanwhile, Park Chan-dae, the floor leader of the ruling Democratic Party that spearheaded Yoon’s impeachment, welcomed the president’s arrest, viewing it as a crucial stride toward restoring democracy and the rule of law. Conversely, lawmakers from Yoon’s People Power Party condemned the operation as illegal.
In preparation for Yoon’s detention, the National Police Agency convened with regional commanders to strategize enforcement, suggesting that over a thousand officers could be involved. There were public warnings that if Yoon’s bodyguards interfered with the execution of the arrest, they too might face legal consequences.
In addition, Yoon’s legal team argued that the detention warrant from the Seoul Western District Court was illegitimate. They pointed to a law concerning military secrets that would protect certain locations from search without explicit consent from Yoon, asserting that the anti-corruption agency lacked the jurisdiction to probe rebellion-related claims.
Yoon expressed his outrage in a video recording, condemning what he claimed to be a series of illegal actions carried out under an invalid warrant. He further asserted that his adherence to the request for questioning did not equate to recognition of their legitimacy, but was an attempt to avert potential violence.
As the political climate around Yoon grew heated, pro- and anti-Yoon protests sprang up near his residence, with thousands of police officers monitoring the situation closely. Some of his supporters reacted viscerally to the news of his transfer to Gwacheon, even lying in the street as a form of resistance.
The backdrop to this contentious situation stems from Yoon’s declaration of martial law, which involved military deployment around the National Assembly on December 3. However, the measure was lifted within hours, leading to his impeachment on rebellion charges just days later. The Constitutional Court has commenced proceedings regarding his impeachment, with a hearing scheduled for Thursday.
