Impeached president Yoon Suk Yeol arrested

Impeached South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol has been arrested on insurrection charges following his controversial December 3 declaration of martial law, marking the first time in the country’s history that a sitting president has faced such action.

South Korean authorities have arrested impeached President Yoon Suk Yeol on charges of insurrection tied to his declaration of martial law on December 3, investigators confirmed.

A motorcade was spotted leaving Yoon's fortified hillside residence, where he had been staying for weeks behind barbed wire and protected by a significant personal security detail. Yoon reportedly agreed to cooperate with investigators to avoid further violence.

Earlier that morning, more than 3,000 police officers and anti-corruption officials gathered at the site, pushing through crowds of Yoon's supporters and members of his ruling People Power Party who were protesting his arrest. Yoon's legal team argued the arrest attempt was unlawful and intended to disgrace him publicly. This marked the first time in South Korea’s history that an arrest warrant was issued against a sitting president.

Supporters of the impeached president clashed with police, while opponents also demonstrated nearby. Despite the frigid temperatures, some pro-Yoon supporters camped overnight near his residence, showing emotional solidarity with the embattled leader.

Authorities deployed 3,200 officers to carry out the arrest, facing resistance from hundreds of Yoon’s supporters and party members who had gathered before sunrise. On January 3, an earlier attempt to serve the historic arrest warrant failed after a standoff with Yoon’s presidential security team and military guards.
 

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