President Yoon Suk Yeol became the first sitting South Korean leader to be detained for questioning by criminal investigators on Wednesday, concluding a weeks-long standoff regarding his declaration of martial law that led to a political crisis.
On January 3, Mr. Yoon’s security guards successfully prevented investigators from detaining him during their initial attempt to serve a court-issued detention warrant. This led to heightened concerns about potential violent confrontations between law enforcement and the president's security team.
However, on Wednesday morning, investigators returned with a larger police presence, including officers equipped with ladders to navigate defensive barricades. Mr. Yoon's bodyguards did not resist, and he reached an agreement with law enforcement officials to accompany them without being handcuffed, traveling in a presidential motorcade to the investigators’ headquarters.
In a video message released shortly after, Mr. Yoon stated that he consented to questioning to avoid a “bloody” clash between his bodyguards and the police, while labeling the investigation and the warrant for his detention as illegal.
Mr. Yoon is now under investigation by the Corruption Investigation Office for High-Ranking Officials, which is examining allegations of insurrection related to his martial law declaration on December 3. Investigators are permitted to question him for up to 48 hours and may seek a separate court warrant for his formal arrest.
The National Assembly swiftly voted down Mr. Yoon’s martial law decree, and opposition parties have accused him of insurrection for deploying armed troops to seize the legislature and detain political adversaries. This marks the first instance of a South Korean leader imposing military rule since the country began its democratization in the late 1980s.
The Constitutional Court is currently deliberating the legitimacy of the Assembly's December 14 vote to impeach Mr. Yoon and whether he should be formally removed from office.
Before dawn on Wednesday, police buses arrived at the presidential compound where Mr. Yoon has remained since his impeachment. Investigators had meticulously planned the operation, reinforcing their ranks to avoid a repeat of the January 3 standoff, which ended in retreat after a prolonged confrontation.
In the days leading up to the detention, Mr. Yoon's security team had fortified the compound with additional barricades. He has expressed his determination to “fight to the end” against what he perceives as an illegal court warrant.
On Wednesday morning, as Mr. Yoon’s lawyers and party lawmakers gathered outside the compound, there was a visible buildup of tension. Live footage showed a standoff in freezing temperatures, with some physical altercations occurring.
Scores of investigators and police officers gathered at the main gate of Mr. Yoon’s residence, using ladders to navigate barricades. They engaged in discussions with the president’s security personnel and lawyers.
South Korea’s acting president, Deputy Prime Minister Choi Sang-mok, urged all involved parties to avoid violence, emphasizing the importance of maintaining public trust and the country's international reputation.
Seok Dong-hyeon, a lawyer acting as Mr. Yoon’s spokesman, indicated that the president would comply with questioning if investigators withdrew. However, the authorities remained resolute in their intent to serve the warrant, leading to Mr. Yoon's detention at 10:33 a.m.
Mr. Yoon was transported in a motorcade to the C.I.O. headquarters in Gwacheon, south of Seoul, where he is expected to undergo extensive interrogation.
This unprecedented effort to detain a sitting president has captivated the nation, with extensive media coverage and live broadcasts of the events. The day prior, the Constitutional Court began hearings on Mr. Yoon's potential removal, but he did not attend, citing concerns of being detained if he left the compound. The court is scheduled to reconvene on Thursday.