In an unprecedented event, South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol has been arrested, becoming the first sitting president in the nation’s history to face such an action. His arrest comes amid an ongoing investigation into insurrection charges tied to his failed attempt to impose martial law—a move that led to his impeachment by parliament and a deepening political crisis.
Despite his impeachment, Yoon technically remains president until South Korea’s Constitutional Court rules on the validity of the parliamentary decision. The arrest, executed on Wednesday morning, followed a dramatic confrontation between law enforcement and Yoon’s Presidential Security Service (PSS), who had barricaded his residence to block the operation.
Investigators employed ladders and wirecutters to bypass obstacles and gain access. In a three-minute video message, Yoon declared his intent to cooperate with the Corruption Investigation Office for High-Ranking Officials (CIO) to avoid violence. “I decided to appear before the CIO, even though it is an illegal investigation, in order to prevent any unsavoury bloodshed,” Yoon said, maintaining that the arrest warrant was not legally valid.
The CIO had previously made several unsuccessful attempts to detain Yoon, including one on January 3, where buses and barbed wire thwarted their efforts. This time, over 1,000 officers participated in the operation, scaling nearby hiking trails to reach the residence and overcome the resistance.
Yoon’s arrest provoked strong reactions across the country. Outside his residence, supporters chanted “End the impeachment,” while critics demanded, “Arrest him.” Following the arrest, opposition lawmakers celebrated, with Democratic Party member Park Chan-dae calling it “the first step toward restoring constitutional order, democracy, and the rule of law.”
Yoon’s People Power Party denounced the arrest as “illegal,” with party floor leader Kweon Seong-dong expressing regret over the unfolding events. Yoon is now being held at the Seoul Detention Center in Uiwang, Gyeonggi Province, awaiting a court decision on a detention warrant.
The political crisis has left South Korea deeply divided. Protests outside Yoon’s residence reflected the polarization, as supporters condemned the arrest as a breakdown of the rule of law, while opponents viewed it as a victory for justice.
In the interim, Acting President Choi Sang-mok has assumed leadership, following the impeachment of his predecessor, Han Duck-soo, by the opposition-controlled parliament. The situation underscores the ongoing turmoil in South Korea, with the nation grappling with questions of democracy, constitutional order, and political accountability.
