SEOUL, South Korea — In a significant law enforcement action, South Korea’s impeached President Yoon Suk Yeol was taken into custody at the presidential compound on Wednesday. He asserted that the anti-corruption agency lacked the jurisdiction to scrutinize his conduct but stated he complied with the detainment to avoid any potential violence.
Prior to his transfer to the anti-corruption agency’s headquarters, Yoon expressed his discontent in a video message, claiming that the “rule of law has completely collapsed in this country.” He is now the first sitting president in South Korea’s history to face arrest. Having remained inside his residence in Hannam-dong, Seoul, for several weeks, Yoon had been steadfast in vowing to “fight to the end” against efforts aimed at removing him from office. He defended his martial law declaration on December 3 as a necessary step to confront what he deemed an “anti-state” opposition that was utilizing its majority in the legislature to obstruct his governance.
The Corruption Investigation Office for High-Ranking Officials indicated that Yoon was taken into custody approximately five hours after investigators first arrived at the presidential grounds, and about three hours following their successful entry to his residence. This marked their second attempt to detain him due to his implementation of martial law. A convoy of black SUVs, some equipped with sirens, was observed departing the compound with police escorts, before Yoon was seen disembarking at the agency’s office in the city of Gwacheon. He is expected to be sent to a detention facility in Uiwang, which is located near Seoul, subsequent to his questioning.
The unfolding situation means Yoon could remain in custody for an extended period. The anti-corruption office, in conjunction with law enforcement and military agencies, is conducting an investigation to ascertain whether his declaration of martial law could be construed as an attempted rebellion. They have a 48-hour window to seek a formal arrest warrant on those grounds; failing that, Yoon would be released. Should a formal arrest occur, investigators are permitted to hold him for 20 days before needing to forward the case to prosecutors for possible indictment. Initial reports indicate that during his first two hours of questioning, Yoon exercised his right to remain silent.
The warrant for Yoon’s detention, issued by the Seoul Western District Court, alluded to considerable evidence suggesting his involvement as a “ringleader of a rebellion.” His powers as president were suspended after the parliament impeached him on December 14, with the constitutional court currently deliberating the case, which could result in his removal from office or reinstatement.
In a separate communiqué posted on his Facebook page after his detainment, Yoon maintained that “martial law is not a crime,” contending that the measure was essential to bring attention to an opposition party he accused of perpetrating “legislative dictatorship” to obstruct laws and budgets, effectively paralyzing state operations. He rejected the charges of rebellion as unfounded and referred to his impeachment as a “fraud.”
During the early morning hours of detainment, officers from the anti-corruption agency and police forces faced a prolonged standoff with the presidential security detail at the compound’s entrance but encountered little resistance. Officers were seen employing wire cutters to dismantle barbed wire that had been erected by the presidential security. Some law enforcement personnel used ladders to navigate around buses strategically positioned to block access, before advancing through the compound towards the presidential residence. Eventually, they gained entry through a side security door near Yoon’s living quarters, escorted by one of his lawyers and his chief of staff.
Despite a valid court warrant for his detention, the presidential security detail claimed it was bound by its duty to safeguard the impeached president, erecting additional barriers around the compound.
In response to the situation, Deputy Prime Minister Choi Sang-mok, South Korea’s acting leader, urged law enforcement and the presidential security forces to prevent any physical confrontations. Following Yoon’s arrest, Choi held discussions with representatives from the Group of Seven nations, including the U.S., Japan, Britain, and Germany, in addition to the EU, to assure them of the government’s stability.
Park Chan-dae, head of the opposition Democratic Party that spearheaded Yoon’s impeachment campaign, stated that the detainment represents a critical step towards reinstating constitutional order, democratic principles, and the rule of law. Concurrently, members of Yoon’s People Power Party gathered nearby to protest what they termed an unlawful detainment.
Recent days saw the National Police Agency coordinating with field leaders in Seoul and Gyeonggi province to finalize plans for Yoon’s detainment, which may involve over a thousand officers. The agency explicitly warned that any presidential bodyguards obstructing their efforts could face arrest. Yoon’s legal team has argued against the validity of the detention warrant, referencing laws that protect locations linked with military secrets from search without consent.
In light of the escalating tensions, Yoon expressed in his pre-detainment video that he was “deeply appalled” by the repeated legal violations and “illegal procedures” being enforced upon him. He emphasized that his compliance was not an acknowledgment of these actions but rather a commitment to preventing violence. Supports and adversaries of Yoon staged simultaneous protests around his residence, calling for both his protection and imprisonment, respectively, as a massive police presence monitored the situation.
Yoon had previously declared martial law and positioned troops around the National Assembly on December 3. That declaration was rescinded hours later when lawmakers bypassed the blockade to vote on its repeal. Subsequently, the parliamentary session led to his impeachment on rebellion allegations on December 14.
On another front, the Constitutional Court conducted its initial hearing regarding the impeachment case on Tuesday, which lasted less than five minutes due to Yoon’s absence. The next session is scheduled for Thursday, and the court plans to proceed regardless of his presence.
Meanwhile, the White House National Security Council reiterated the United States’ commitment to supporting the South Korean people and the importance of the rule of law, reaffirming its dedication to collaborating with the leadership headed by Deputy Prime Minister Choi.
