The arrest of South Korea’s Yoon Seok-yeol, the country’s first sitting president, ended a weeks-long standoff between investigators and security guards.
Former Prime Minister Yoon, who failed to declare martial law, throwing the country into chaos and was impeached by the National Assembly, is being investigated on charges of rebellion.
However, technically he is still president because the Constitutional Court must determine the validity of impeachment.
Investigators used ladders and wire cutters in sub-zero cold to approach Mr. Yoon, where Presidential Security Service (PSS) officers had set up barricades to prevent his arrest.
The 64-year-old leader said he had agreed to appear before the Corruption Investigation Office for senior civil servants (CIO). to avoid bloodshed.
In a three-minute video message, Mr. Yoon stated that he would comply even if he opposed the investigation into himself.
He has consistently maintained that his arrest warrant is not legally valid.
Mr Yoon said he saw authorities using firefighting equipment to ‘infiltrate’ the home’s security perimeter.
He said, “In order to prevent unpleasant bloodshed, I decided to appear before the CIO even though it was an illegal investigation.”
A tense scene unfolded as the early morning arrest team passed the barricade. Many of Rep. Yoon’s supporters chanted for ‘an end to impeachment’, while opponents chanted for ‘imprisonment’.
More than 1,000 police officers took part in Wednesday’s operation, marking the second time officers have attempted to arrest him.
The CIO who previously investigated Mr. Yoon They attempted to arrest him on January 3rd. But it was blocked by buses and barbed wire.
They obtained the warrant after he ignored multiple subpoenas to appear for questioning.
On Wednesday, he brought with him tools that allowed him to use ladders to jump over parked cars, cut through barbed wire and overcome obstacles.
Local media reported that some accessed the presidential residence through a nearby hiking trail.
The People’s Power Party Yoon Yeo-jeong condemned his arrest as “illegal,” and floor leader Kwon Seong-dong called Wednesday’s incident “regrettable.”
On the other hand, Park Chan-dae, floor leader of the Democratic Party, said, “Yoon’s arrest shows that justice is alive and well in the Republic of Korea.”
“This arrest is the first step toward restoring constitutional order, democracy, and the rule of law,” he said at a party meeting.
Currently, in Korea, Minister of Strategy and Finance Choi Sang-mok serves as acting president. He came to power after serving as the first acting president. Han Deok-soo was also impeached. Parliament with a majority opposition party.
Mr. Yoon is scheduled to be detained at the Seoul Detention Center in Uiwang, Gyeonggi Province, about 5 km away from the CIO office.
However, if the court does not issue an arrest warrant within 48 hours of arrest, Yoon can be released and freely return to the Blue House residence.
Mr. Yoon was questioned by investigators, but insisted on his right to remain silent.
The arrest of a sitting president is a notable event in Korean politics, but the country’s political crisis is not over yet. This is just another step in the unfolding political drama.
The crowds that gathered outside Yun’s home Wednesday morning highlighted the deep divisions in the country.
The crowd opposing Mr. Yoon cheered and applauded the announcement of his arrest and sang ‘Congratulations’.
The atmosphere is completely different from the other side.
One supporter of Mr Yun told the BBC: “We are very upset and angry. The rule of law has broken down.”
The standoff also pits two branches of executive power against each other: armed law enforcement officers with lawful arrest warrants and the Presidential Guard, who say they have a duty to protect the suspended president.
Even before martial law was declared, Rep. Yoon was reduced to a lame duck leader as the opposition party controlled the majority of the National Assembly.
He also experienced controversy regarding his wife. I received a Dior bag as a gift..
