South Korea’s impeached President Yoon detained
Yoon was brought into custody about three hours after hundreds of law enforcement officers entered the residential compound in the agency's second attempt to detain him
Seoul: South Korea’s impeached President Yoon Suk Yeol was detained in a massive law enforcement operation at the presidential compound on Wednesday morning, saying he complied with the warrant after weeks of defiance over attempts to question him in the investigation over his imposition of martial law last month.
In a video message recorded before he was escorted to the headquarters of the anti-corruption agency, Yoon lamented that the “rule of law has completely collapsed in this country”.
Yoon’s lawyers tried to persuade investigators not to execute the detention warrant, saying the president would voluntarily appear for questioning but the agency declined.
The Corruption Investigation Office for High-Ranking Officials said Yoon was brought into custody about three hours after hundreds of law enforcement officers entered the residential compound in the agency’s second attempt to detain him, this time without encountering meaningful resistance.
A series of black SUVs, some equipped with sirens, were seen leaving the presidential compound with police escorts. A vehicle apparently carrying Yoon later arrived at the agency’s office in the nearby city of Gwacheon.
Yoon had been holed up in the Hannam-dong residence in the capital, Seoul, for weeks while vowing to ‘fight to the end’ against the efforts to oust him. He has justified his declaration of martial law December 3 as a legitimate act of governance against an ‘anti-state’ opposition employing its legislative majority to thwart his agenda.
The anti-corruption agency is leading a joint investigation with police and the military over whether Yoon’s martial law declaration amounted to an attempted rebellion and sought to bring him into custody after he ignored several summonses for questioning.
They have pledged more forceful measures to detain him after the presidential security service blocked their initial efforts on January 3.
Yoon’s presidential powers were suspended when the opposition-dominated assembly voted to impeach him on December 14, accusing him of rebellion. His fate now rests with the Constitutional Court, which has begun deliberating on whether to formally remove Yoon from office or reject the charges and reinstate him.
The Constitutional Court held its first formal hearing in the case on Tuesday but the session lasted less than five minutes because Yoon refused to attend. The next hearing is set for Thursday, and the court will then proceed with the trial whether or not Yoon is there.
