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South Korea’s Impeached President Yoon Suk Yeol Detained

South Korea’s Impeached President Yoon Suk Yeol Detained

South Korean police have detained impeached President Yoon Suk Yeol at his residence in Seoul, ABC News confirmed on Wednesday local time. The arrest follows a weeks-long confrontation and comes after investigators attempted to apprehend the controversial politician regarding his brief declaration of martial law in December.

Prosecutors from South Korea’s Corruption Investigation Office for High-Ranking Officials entered Yoon’s residence, with the warrant executed at 10:33 a.m., according to spokesperson Kim Baek-ki. Following the detainment, Yoon made the decision to travel in his own presidential security vehicle to the Corruption Investigation Office for questioning.

Yoon’s lawyer, Suk Dong-hyun, explained that the president chose to appear in person to avoid potential conflict between the Security Service and the police. “Given the high likelihood of a physical confrontation, it is clear that a serious incident could arise,” his lawyer stated. Yoon acknowledged the legality of the investigation and attempted arrest, describing them as unlawful.

In a pre-recorded message to the public, Yoon expressed his dismay over the situation, saying, “Unfortunately, the law has completely collapsed in this country.” He condemned the issuance of warrants by agencies lacking investigative authority and criticized the actions of the investigative bodies, asserting they were perpetrating illegal acts.

He emphasized that his appearance at the CIO was not an acceptance of the investigation’s legitimacy, but rather “an effort to prevent unnecessary bloodshed” as police attempted to enter his residence forcibly.

Earlier this month, a standoff occurred when anti-corruption authorities attempted to access Yoon’s property, leading to significant police presence and protests. Approximately 3,000 officers were deployed, yet the arrest attempt was ultimately abandoned.

The efforts to detain Yoon were grounded in a South Korean court’s issuance of an arrest and search warrant on December 31, linked to his short-lived implementation of martial law. Yoon has been suspended from office since December 14.

He declared martial law during a televised address on December 3, asserting the measure was necessary due to the actions of the Democratic Party, which he accused of controlling parliament and creating governmental paralysis. Under South Korean law, a sitting president can be arrested for insurrection if accused, which has sparked historical implications for the nation.

A joint investigation team initially sought the warrant based on charges of insurrection and abuse of power, claiming Yoon ignored three summonses for questioning. This marked a significant judicial precedent, being the first time in South Korean history that a warrant was granted for a sitting president.

Credit: ABC News

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