Flash News

Bota

South Korean president arrested after attempting to declare martial law

South Korean president arrested after attempting to declare martial law

South Korea's ousted leader, Yoon Suk Yeol, was arrested on Wednesday over his failed attempt to declare martial law, ending a weeks-long standoff with authorities and becoming the first president in the country's history to be arrested.

Yoon, who faces sedition charges after his short-lived attempt to declare martial law last month, said he would cooperate with investigators to avoid "bloodshed."

As a former prosecutor who led the conservative People Power Party (PPP) to victory in the 2022 elections, Yoon could face the death penalty or life imprisonment if found guilty of sedition.

He had attempted to evade arrest for weeks by staying in his residence, protected by members of the Presidential Security Service (PSS) who had remained loyal to him.

His guards had placed barbed wire and barricades at the residence, turning the building into what the opposition called a "castle."

Yoon, who had vowed to "fight to the end," managed to evade the first attempt to arrest him on January 3, after a tense hours-long standoff between guards and anti-corruption investigators working with the police.

But in the early hours of Wednesday, hundreds of police officers and investigators from the Corruption Investigation Office again surrounded the residence, some climbing over the surrounding walls and taking secret paths to reach the main building.

After a standoff lasting about five hours, authorities announced that Yoon had been arrested and the ousted leader released a pre-recorded message.

"I decided to respond to the Corruption Investigation Bureau," Yoon said in the message, adding that he did not accept the legality of the investigation but was cooperating "to prevent any unfortunate bloodshed."

Investigators immediately began questioning Yoon, but they said he had exercised his "right to remain silent."

He refused to be recorded during questioning, an official said, adding that Yoon would spend the night in a detention center.

In a later Facebook post, which Yoon said he wrote while confined to his residence, he repeated allegations of election fraud and spoke of "hostile" nations attacking the country, referring to North Korea.

AFP news agency reporters reported minor clashes at the gate of the residence, where Yoon's most ardent supporters had gathered to protect him, while authorities launched an arrest operation.

His supporters could be heard chanting "illegal arrest warrant!" while holding South Korean and US flags. Some of them lay on the ground in front of the main gate of the residential complex./ REL

Latest news

2025-02-15 13:01:41