Seoul, South Korea — In an unprecedented turn of events, South Korean President Yoon Suk-yeol was arrested on Wednesday at the presidential residence. This marks the first time in the nation’s modern history that a sitting president has been taken into custody.
The arrest comes in the wake of Yoon’s impeachment over his controversial implementation of martial law, which was both short-lived and widely criticized. The joint investigation unit—comprising the Corruption Investigation Office for High-ranking Officials (CIO), the National Office of Investigation (NOI), and the defense ministry’s investigative headquarters—confirmed the arrest in a brief statement, noting it occurred at 10:33 a.m. local time (0133 GMT).
Television footage captured the moment as vehicles transporting the detained president departed the presidential residence, heading for the CIO office in Gwacheon, just south of Seoul. Yoon is expected to undergo extensive questioning before being transferred to the Seoul Detention Center in Uiwang, approximately 5 kilometers from the investigation site.
Legal experts highlight that the CIO must decide within 48 hours whether to seek a formal detention warrant. Such a warrant would allow authorities to detain Yoon for up to 20 days for further investigation or release him pending additional proceedings.
The arrest has sent shockwaves throughout South Korea and the international community, raising concerns about political stability and the future of the country’s leadership. Citizens and officials are grappling with the unprecedented situation of a sitting president in custody, contemplating the implications for the nation’s democracy and international standing.
Reference(s):
cgtn.com
