South Korean authorities arrested impeached South Korean President Yoon Suk-yeol today over insurrection accusations related to his Dec. 3 martial law declaration, investigators said.
Yoon's presidential motorcade left the hillside residence where he has been holed up for weeks behind barbed wire barriers and a small army of personal security, and later arrived at the offices of the anti-corruption agency heading the probe.
Photo: Reuters
In a statement, Yoon said he submitted himself for questioning to avoid any violence after more than 3,000 police officers marched on his residence to arrest him in the early hours.
"When I saw them break into the security area using firefighting equipment today, I decided to respond to the CIO's [Corruption Investigation Office for High-ranking Officials'] investigation — despite it being an illegal investigation — to prevent unsavory bloodshed," Yoon said in a statement.
Yoon's lawyers have argued that attempts to detain Yoon are illegal and are designed to publicly humiliate him.
The warrant investigators secured for his arrest is the first ever issued against an incumbent South Korean president.
As local news broadcasters reported that Yoon's detention may come soon, some minor scuffles broke out between tearful pro-Yoon protesters and police near the residence, according to a Reuters witness at the scene.
Yoon's declaration of martial law stunned South Koreans and plunged the country into an unprecedented period of political turmoil.
Lawmakers voted to impeach him and remove him from duties on Dec. 14.
Separately, the Constitutional Court is deliberating over to uphold that impeachment and permanently remove him from office.
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