SEOUL, South Korea — The recently impeached President Yoon Suk Yeol of South Korea was officially arrested early Sunday morning following his initial apprehension at the presidential residence in Seoul just days prior. This arrest comes as he faces potential prison time due to his controversial martial law declaration made last month, highlighting significant political turmoil in the country.
Yoon’s arrest may signify the onset of a lengthy detainment that could span several months. His supporters reacted strongly to the arrest decision, leading to chaos at the Seoul Western District Court, where a large group of his followers broke into the premises. During the riot, they vandalized the building by smashing doors and windows using items like plastic chairs, metal rems, and police shields seized from officers. The supporters shouted for access to the judge who approved Yoon’s arrest warrant, although she had already exited the location.
In response to the disturbances, a heavy police presence was mobilized, resulting in nearly 90 arrests among protestors. Injuries were reported, and some officers were seen receiving treatment at the scene. The court reported that it was assessing the impact of the disturbances on its staff and facilities following the unrest.
After an extensive deliberation of eight hours, the court agreed with law enforcement’s plea for an arrest warrant, citing Yoon as a risk for evidence tampering. On Saturday, Yoon and his legal team presented their case in court for his release. Having been detained since Wednesday due to a significant law enforcement operation at his home, Yoon is now facing rebellion charges associated with his martial law declaration that ignited South Korea’s most severe political crisis since the nation’s shift to democracy in the late 1980s.
While South Korean presidents typically enjoy broad protections from prosecution while in office, these legal shields do not extend to allegations of rebellion or treason. The Corruption Investigation Office for High-Ranking Officials, which is conducting an inquiry alongside police and military entities, now has the authority to hold Yoon for up to 20 days before the case is handed over to public prosecutors for possible charges.
Yoon’s legal team has the option to challenge the court’s arrest warrant through a petition. His courtroom appearance ignited heightened tensions outside, with thousands of his supporters gathering for hours, demanding his freedom. Even prior to the issuance of the arrest warrant, clashes with police erupted as demonstrators attempted to breach barricades around the court. At least two vehicles belonging to anti-corruption investigators were reportedly damaged during these altercations.
During a nearly five-hour confidential hearing on Saturday, Yoon reportedly communicated with the judge for around 40 minutes as both sides presented conflicting viewpoints on his custody. It is noteworthy that many of Yoon’s high-ranking officials, including the defense minister and police chief, have already been arrested and charged concerning their involvement with the martial law declaration.
The political crisis was sparked when Yoon sought to surmount a legislative stalemate by declaring a military rule and deploying troops to the National Assembly and electoral offices. This standoff lasted only a short time before lawmakers, who navigated through a blockade, voted to rescind the martial law measure. The opposition-led assembly later voted for his impeachment on December 14.
Yoon’s political destiny now rests with the Constitutional Court, which is tasked with deciding whether to formally remove him from office or order his reinstatement. Seok Dong-hyeon, one of Yoon’s attorneys, criticized the court’s warrant decision as a blatant disregard for constitutional principles and insisted that the martial law declaration was legitimate governance. He warned that Yoon’s arrest would heighten tensions among his supporters.
Yoon’s party expressed regret over his arrest but also urged supporters to avoid further violent actions. Conversely, the liberal opposition Democratic Party, which played a significant role in Yoon’s impeachment, claimed that his arrest served as a foundational step towards restoring the disrupted constitutional order. A party lawmaker called for strict repercussions against those who engaged in the court’s disturbance, urging law enforcement to maintain order and prevent similar uprisings.
South Korea’s acting leader, Deputy Prime Minister Choi Sang-mok, expressed deep concern over the violence at the courthouse, emphasizing that it harms democracy and the rule of law. He has called for increased security around related venues and measures to maintain order during demonstrations.
Transported to the courthouse from a detention facility in Uiwang, Yoon arrived in a blue Justice Ministry van, closely monitored by police and security teams. His motorcade entered the court’s underground parking as thousands of supporters assembled nearby amid a considerable police presence. After the hearing, he was returned to the detention center without making remarks to the press.
Following an assault on its investigators later on Saturday, the anti-corruption agency requested that media organizations obscure the identities of its members attending the hearing for security reasons.
In his defense, Yoon and his attorneys have maintained that the martial law decree was meant to serve as a temporary and “peaceful” warning to the opposition, whom he claims obstructed his agenda using their legislative majority. Yoon asserts that the troops dispatched to the National Election Commission were deployed to examine unproven allegations of electoral fraud in South Korea.
He has emphasized that his intent was never to halt legislative processes and that troops were positioned to ensure order rather than block lawmakers from entering and voting against martial law. He has denied any plans to arrest politicians or election officials.
However, military leaders have described Yoon’s actions as a strategic attempt to take control of the legislature, which was thwarted by numerous civilians and legislative staff assisting lawmakers. Should prosecutors proceed with indicting Yoon for rebellion and abuse of power, he could potentially be detained for up to six months before any trial. If convicted, Yoon may further face imprisonment that could escalate through higher courts, with rebellion deemed a serious offense in South Korea, carrying penalties of life imprisonment or even death.
