South Korea's impeached President Yoon Suk Yeol was detained by law enforcement after a standoff at his presidential compound. The detention follows weeks of defiance over attempts to question him regarding his imposition of martial law last month.
SEOUL, South Korea (AP) — South Korea 's impeached President Yoon Suk Yeol was detained in a massive law enforcement operation at the presidential compound 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 Dec. 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 summons for questioning. They have pledged more forceful measures to detain him after the presidential security service blocked their initial efforts on Jan. 3. Following an hourslong standoff at the compound’s gate, anti-corruption investigators and police officers were seen moving up the hilly compound. Police officers were earlier seen using ladders to climb over rows of buses placed by the presidential security service near the compound’s entrance. Anti-corruption investigators and police later arrived in front of a metal gate with a gold presidential mark that’s near Yoon’s residential building. Some officers were seen entering a security door on the side of the metal gate, joined by one of Yoon’s lawyers and his chief of staff. The presidential security service later removed a bus and other vehicles that had been parked tightly inside the gate as a barricade. Despite a court warrant for Yoon’s detention, the presidential security service has insisted it’s obligated to protect the impeached president and has fortified the compound with barbed wire and rows of buses blocking paths. If investigators manage to detain Yoon Suk Yeol, they will likely ask a court for permission to make a formal arrest. Otherwise, he will be released after 48 hours. As tensions escalated, South Korea’s acting leader, Deputy Prime Minister Choi Sang-mok, issued a statement early Wednesday urging law enforcement and the presidential security service to ensure there are no “physical clashes.” The liberal opposition Democratic Party, which drove a legislative campaign that led to Yoon’s impeachment on Dec. 14, issued a statement calling for the presidential security service to stand down and cooperate with Yoon’s detention. Lawmakers from Yoon’s People Power Party held a rally near the presidential residence, decrying the efforts to detain him as unlawful. The National Police Agency has convened multiple meetings of field commanders in Seoul and nearby Gyeonggi province in recent days to plan their detainment efforts, and the size of those forces fueled speculation that more than a thousand officers could be deployed in a possible multiday operation. The agency and police have openly warned that presidential bodyguards obstructing the execution of the warrant could be arrested. Yoon’s lawyers have claimed that the detainment warrant issued by the Seoul Western District Court was invalid. They cited a law that protects locations potentially linked to military secrets from search without the consent of the person in charge — which would be Yoon. The court warrant for Yoon’s detainment is valid through Jan. 21. Yoon’s supporters and critics have held competing protests near the residence — one side vowing to protect him, the other calling for his imprisonment — while thousands of police officers in yellow jackets closely monitored the tense situation. What led to this Yoon declared martial law and deployed troops around the National Assembly on Dec. 3. It lasted only hours before lawmakers managed to get through the blockade and vote to lift the measur
Yoon Suk Yeol South Korea Impeachment Martial Law Detention Corruption Investigation Presidential Security Service
Canada Latest News, Canada Headlines
Similar News:You can also read news stories similar to this one that we have collected from other news sources.
South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol Faces Backlash After Attempt at Martial LawSouth Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol has faced mounting criticism and a loss of political power after attempting to enact martial law earlier this month. The move plunged the country into political chaos and significantly damaged Yoon's already low approval rating. While the worst-case scenario was averted, the incident has effectively ended his political career and raised concerns among international allies about the stability of South Korea.
Read more »
South Korea Seeks Detention Warrant for Impeached President Yoon Suk Yeol Over Martial Law DecreeSouth Korean law enforcement officials requested a court warrant to detain impeached President Yoon Suk Yeol, alleging his short-lived martial law decree on December 3 constituted rebellion. The Corruption Investigation Office for High-Ranking Officials, leading a joint investigation, plans to question Yoon on charges of abuse of authority and orchestrating a rebellion. Yoon's lawyer challenged the warrant request, arguing the agency lacks legal authority to investigate rebellion charges. Meanwhile, the opposition Democratic Party called for the court to issue the warrant, deeming Yoon's detention a step towards 'ending the rebellion and restoring normalcy'.
Read more »
South Korean Court Issues Warrant to Detain Impeached President Yoon Suk YeolSouth Korea's anti-corruption agency announced that a court has issued warrants to detain impeached President Yoon Suk Yeol and search his office due to his declaration of martial law earlier this month. The agency is investigating whether the martial law declaration constituted rebellion. Yoon's powers have been suspended since his impeachment by the opposition-controlled National Assembly. While Yoon is currently protected from criminal prosecution due to presidential immunity, this does not extend to allegations of rebellion or treason.
Read more »
South Korean Court Approves Arrest Warrant for Impeached President Yoon Suk YeolA South Korean court has approved an arrest warrant for President Yoon Suk Yeol, who was impeached and suspended from power due to his decision to impose martial law on December 3rd. This marks the first arrest warrant issued for a serving president in South Korea's history.
Read more »
South Korea Court Issues Warrant to Detain Impeached President Yoon Suk YeolSouth Korea's anti-corruption agency announced that a court has issued warrants to detain impeached President Yoon Suk Yeol and search his office over his short-lived declaration of martial law earlier this month. The agency is investigating whether the martial law declaration constituted rebellion. Yoon's powers have been suspended since his impeachment by the National Assembly, and the Constitutional Court will decide his fate.
Read more »
Impeached South Korean president Yoon Suk Yeol issues defiant message as he faces possible detentionIn a message to conservative supporters rallying outside his Seoul residence, Yoon vowed to ‘fight to the end’ against ‘anti-state forces’
Read more »