South Korean authorities have arrested impeached President Yoon Suk Yeol at his residence in Seoul on Wednesday, January 15, marking a significant escalation in the ongoing investigation into his controversial declaration of martial law last month.
The arrest comes after weeks of tension between police and Yoon’s security team. Prosecutors from the South Korean Corruption Investigation Office (CIO) entered the residence earlier today, following an initial failed attempt to detain Yoon on January 3. At that time, a standoff erupted between his security team and authorities, forcing them to call off the arrest.
Kim Baek-ki, a spokesperson for the CIO, explained that Wednesday’s operation proceeded without incident, stating, “Unlike the first arrest attempt on Jan 3, there weren’t personnel aggressively blocking at the scene. There was no physical contact.”
The January 3rd arrest attempt saw a dramatic confrontation, with over 3,000 police officers deployed and thousands of protesters gathering in opposition. Despite the large presence of law enforcement, the arrest was ultimately abandoned due to the overwhelming protests and resistance.
Yoon, who had been impeached following his controversial decision to declare martial law in December, now faces increased legal pressure amid growing public scrutiny. His arrest is seen as a major development in a broader investigation into alleged corruption and abuse of power during his presidency.
The situation continues to unfold, and authorities are expected to release more details in the coming days.
