South Korea’s impeached President Yoon Suk Yeol was detained on Wednesday in a large-scale law enforcement operation at the presidential compound. The embattled leader insisted the anti-corruption agency lacked the authority to investigate him but stated that he complied to avoid violence, reports AP.
In a video message recorded before his apprehension, Yoon decried what he described as the collapse of the rule of law in South Korea. “The rule of law has completely collapsed in this country,” Yoon declared, maintaining his innocence.
Yoon, the first sitting president in South Korea’s history to be taken into custody, had been staying at the Hannam-dong presidential residence in Seoul for weeks, refusing to leave. He vowed to “fight to the end” against efforts to oust him and defended his December 3 declaration of martial law as a necessary response to what he called an “anti-state” opposition blocking his agenda with their legislative majority.
The Detention Process
The Corruption Investigation Office for High-Ranking Officials (CIO) confirmed that Yoon was detained approximately five hours after investigators arrived at the presidential compound. It took them three hours to gain access to his residence in their second attempt to execute the warrant.
Images from the scene showed police officers and investigators surrounding the heavily guarded compound. The operation marked a significant escalation in the political crisis following Yoon’s impeachment, which was driven by allegations of abuse of power and his controversial imposition of martial law.
Background
The impeachment of President Yoon Suk Yeol has sparked widespread political unrest in South Korea. His declaration of martial law in December and subsequent defiance of the impeachment process deepened divisions between the government and opposition forces. Yoon has consistently argued that his actions were necessary to uphold governance against a hostile opposition.
This unprecedented detention underscores the heightened tensions in South Korean politics and raises questions about the country’s adherence to democratic principles during this crisis.