SEOUL, South Korea — Yoon Suk Yeol, the impeached president of South Korea, was taken to a detention facility on Wednesday night after being interrogated by anti-corruption officials regarding his declaration of martial law last month. The detainment took place during a significant law enforcement operation at the presidential compound earlier that day. Yoon expressed his belief that the anti-corruption agency lacked authority in investigating him, asserting he complied with the process to avoid violence.
This marks a historic instance as Yoon becomes the first sitting president in South Korea to be apprehended. He is now confronted with serious allegations of rebellion, which could result in a lengthy prison sentence. In a video message recorded prior to his transfer to the anti-corruption agency’s headquarters, he criticized the situation in the country, stating that the “rule of law has completely collapsed.”
For weeks, Yoon had been staying at his residence in Hannam-dong, pledging to “fight to the end” against efforts aimed at his removal. He defended his martial law declaration on December 3, claiming it was a necessary action to counteract what he termed an “anti-state” opposition that was obstructing his administration’s agenda using their legislative majority.
The Corruption Investigation Office for High-Ranking Officials reported that Yoon was taken into custody approximately five hours after investigators had entered the compound. This followed their second attempt to detain him regarding the martial law declaration. A convoy of black SUVs, accompanied by police sirens, was observed leaving the presidential grounds with Yoon on board. Upon his arrival at the agency’s location in Gwacheon, he was seen stepping out of a car.
Outside the anti-corruption agency, hundreds of Yoon’s conservative supporters gathered, displaying slogans and signs proclaiming their allegiance to him. During this unrest, reports surfaced of an unidentified man suffering life-threatening injuries following an apparent self-immolation nearby, according to local emergency services.
After undergoing prolonged questioning for over ten hours, a vehicle transporting Yoon arrived at a detention center in Uiwang, on the outskirts of Seoul. The future implications of his detention remain uncertain, as he could potentially be held for weeks or even months. The anti-corruption agency has a 48-hour window to seek a court order for his formal arrest, and should they fail, Yoon would be released. However, if he is formally arrested, law enforcement could extend his detention for up to 20 days before the case moves to public prosecutors for possible indictment.
Should he be charged with rebellion and abuse of power, Yoon could remain incarcerated until the initial court decision, which typically occurs within six months. Under South Korean law, individuals convicted of leading a rebellion face severe penalties, including the death penalty or life imprisonment.
As of now, several high-ranking officials, including Yoon’s defense minister and police chief, have already been detained in relation to their involvement in his martial law enforcement. The Seoul Western District Court’s detention warrant cited substantial grounds for suspecting Yoon as a “ringleader of a rebellion”. During his questioning, Yoon chose to exercise his right to silence.
The political landscape also shifted on December 14, when parliament officially impeached Yoon, suspending his presidential powers. The case now awaits a ruling from the Constitutional Court, which holds the authority to either uphold the impeachment or reinstate him.
In a separate post after his detention, Yoon defended his martial law declaration, asserting it was essential to expose what he termed “legislative dictatorship” by opposition members who obstructed governance. He referred to his impeachment as “fraud” and maintained that he had acted in accordance with the law.
On the day of his apprehension, anti-corruption agents and police involved in the operation faced significant challenges, including a standoff with Yoon’s security forces. They eventually gained access to the compound, taking necessary precautions to ensure a smooth operation.
In an effort to maintain order, South Korea’s acting leader, Deputy Prime Minister Choi Sang-mok, urged peace during the operation to avoid physical confrontation. Choi also reassured diplomats from various countries that governmental stability was being upheld post-Yoon’s detention.
Leaders from the Democratic Party, which spearheaded Yoon’s impeachment, hailed his detainment as a pivotal step towards restoring democratic governance. Conversely, members of Yoon’s People Power Party condemned the arrest, asserting it was unlawful.
The National Police Agency undertook careful planning for the detainment, indicating they might deploy over 1,000 officers if necessary. Yoon’s defense team argued that the warrant for his detainment was invalid, citing legal protections against unwarranted searches related to military secrets and challenging the anti-corruption agency’s authority over rebellion inquiries.
Amidst the unrest, Yoon expressed his dismay in a video, criticizing the illegal actions taken against him and asserting his compliance as a means to avert violence. Supporters and critics flanked his residence, each group advocating their respective positions: protection for Yoon or calls for justice against him, while police maintained a vigilant presence to manage the situation.
Yoon’s declaration of martial law, which involved troop deployments around the National Assembly on December 3, lasted mere hours as lawmakers successfully voted to lift it. Following that, the impeachment that ultimately led to his current predicament took place on December 14. The Constitutional Court’s first hearing regarding the impeachment on Tuesday was notably brief, with Yoon absent from the session. The next hearing is scheduled for Thursday.
