The President of South Korea, Yoon Suk-yeol, who was previously impeached, was detained on Wednesday, January 15, during a large-scale law enforcement operation at the presidential complex, according to The Associated Press.
It is noted that before Yoon was taken to the headquarters of the anti-corruption agency, he recorded a video message in which he complained that "the rule of law has completely collapsed in this country."
The Corruption Investigation Office for High-Ranking Officials reported that Yoon was detained on the second attempt for declaring martial law in the country on December 3.
The report states that Yoon was seen exiting a vehicle after arriving at the office of the anti-corruption agency in the neighboring city of Gwacheon. After questioning, he was expected to be sent to a detention center in Uiwang near Seoul.
Yoon could be held in custody for weeks, the publication writes. The anti-corruption agency has 48 hours to file a request for a court order for official arrest, and if it fails to do so, Yoon will be released. If Yoon is officially arrested, investigators may keep him in custody for up to 20 days before transferring the case to the prosecutor's office for charges to be filed.
The impeachment case against the president is currently being reviewed by the Constitutional Court, which may officially remove Yoon from office or dismiss the case and reinstate him, the publication reports.
The acting leader of South Korea, Deputy Prime Minister Choi Sang-mok, has urged law enforcement and the president's security service to ensure there are no "physical confrontations."
Meanwhile, the leader of the liberal opposition Democratic Party, which led the legislative campaign that resulted in Yoon's impeachment on December 14, Park Chan-dae, stated that the president's detention is "the first step towards restoring constitutional order, democracy, and implementing the rule of law."
Impeachment of the President of South Korea: What We Know
As previously reported by UNIAN, in early January 2025, in South Korea, investigators attempted to arrest President Yoon Suk-yeol. They entered his residence to execute a warrant but faced resistance from the guards of the State Security Service and military personnel. Additionally, hundreds of Yoon's supporters staged protests, forcing the investigators to retreat.
On December 14, 2024, the South Korean parliament voted for the impeachment of President Yoon Suk-yeol. The reason for impeachment was the scandalous declaration of martial law in South Korea.
Prior to that, on December 3, Yoon announced the imposition of martial law. He explained the decision by claiming that the parliament intended to dismiss the ministers of defense and national security, which he argued threatened the country's safety. He also accused the opposition of "anti-state actions" and warned of threats from "communist forces in North Korea." However, the parliament subsequently revoked the martial law.