Seoul, January 15, 2025 – South Korea’s impeached President Yoon Suk Yeol was detained on Wednesday after a high-stakes standoff at his presidential residence in Seoul. Hundreds of investigators from the Corruption Investigation Office for High-Ranking Officials, supported by police officers, arrived at his compound early in the day to execute the detention order.
A convoy of black SUVs, escorted by police vehicles, was seen leaving the compound shortly after Yoon’s arrest, marking the culmination of hours of negotiations between investigators and the president’s legal team.
The arrest follows Yoon’s controversial declaration of martial law on December 3, 2024, which he defended as necessary to counter what he described as an “anti-state” opposition. Critics and legal experts have argued that the declaration was an abuse of power and could amount to an attempted rebellion.
Yoon, who had been residing at his Hannam-dong residence, repeatedly ignored summonses for questioning by investigators. His legal team argued that he was willing to cooperate voluntarily but opposed the detention, leading to a prolonged standoff. The anti-corruption agency dismissed these offers, citing Yoon’s previous refusals to comply.
This marks the second attempt by authorities to detain Yoon. A prior effort on January 3 was thwarted by presidential security forces, prompting investigators to pledge more decisive action.
Yoon, known for his combative rhetoric, had vowed to “fight to the end” against efforts to oust him. The joint investigation by the anti-corruption agency, police, and military aims to determine whether his declaration of martial law was an unconstitutional act of rebellion.
This development has further deepened the political turmoil in South Korea, with widespread public and international attention focused on the outcome of the case.
