State crisis
Martial law declared: South Korea’s ousted President Yoon arrested
For the first time in South Korea’s history, a sitting head of state is arrested. Yoon briefly declared martial law at the end of 2024 – and continues to defend this to this day.
More than 3,000 police officers and investigators from South Korea’s anti-corruption agency gathered in front of the suspended president’s residence in the early hours of the morning. Yoon Suk Yeol was arrested there because of the brief declaration of martial law in early December. Officers arrested Yoon at his residence on Wednesday morning to take him to the prosecutor’s office, South Korea’s official Yonhap News Agency reported. Despite major security concerns, the arrest appeared to be peaceful.
He had been holed up in his mountain home for weeks behind barbed wire fences and a small army of security guards. Despite protests from Yoon’s supporters and members of his ruling party, authorities managed to take the ousted president into custody.
A convoy of black SUVs left the presidential compound in central Seoul under police escort. According to reports, Yoon will be questioned by the CIO in the coming hours on allegations that his actions were guilty of sedition and abuse of power.
It is the first time in the country’s history that a formally sitting president of South Korea has been arrested. In addition to the investigations by the anti-corruption authority, impeachment proceedings against Yoon are also underway at the Constitutional Court. After the 64-year-old did not appear in court at the first hearing on Tuesday, the next trial date was postponed to Thursday.
South Korea’s president remains committed to martial law decision
The suspended president described the investigation against him as illegal. He still decided to agree to be questioned by the Anti-Corruption Authority (CIO) to avoid violent clashes, Yoon said in a video message that was probably recorded at his residence shortly before the arrest. The 64-year-old also claimed that the rule of law in South Korea had collapsed. The head of state agreed to cooperate with investigators to avoid “bloodshed,” ending weeks of tense political stalemate.
Yoon briefly declared martial law on December 3rd in the wake of a budget dispute with the opposition, plunging the democratic country into a state crisis. Parliament then voted for his impeachment. The Constitutional Court will examine this decision in the coming weeks.
Declaration of martial law: soldiers and protesters face each other
Head of State Yoon Suk Yeol surprisingly declared martial law on South Korea in a TV speech. He justified this with the need to protect the country’s democratic order and directed accusations at the opposition, which holds the majority in parliament
© Uncredited/South Korea Presidential Office/AP / DPA
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Yoon defended the imposition of martial law – which was lifted a few hours later – as a legitimate means until the end. The suspended president described the opposition as a collection of “anti-state forces” that would paralyze the state in its basic functions.
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Source: Stern
I have been working in the news industry for over 6 years, first as a reporter and now as an editor. I have covered politics extensively, and my work has appeared in major newspapers and online news outlets around the world. In addition to my writing, I also contribute regularly to 24 Hours World.
