After a tumultuous week filled with political drama, legal battles, and public protests, South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol has been arrested at his official residence in central Seoul. This historic arrest marks the first time a sitting president in South Korea has been detained, stemming from allegations related to his controversial declaration of martial law last month.
Early Wednesday morning, a significant police operation was launched to execute an arrest warrant against Yoon, with over 2,000 police officers involved. The operation faced staunch resistance from about 200 members of the Presidential Security Service (PSS), who had fortified the presidential compound with barbed wire and barricades. Clashes erupted as police attempted to breach the security measures, leading to a tense standoff.
After hours of negotiation, and with no voluntary surrender from Yoon, authorities managed to detain the president for questioning on charges linked to his martial law decree, which he had rescinded within hours due to overwhelming opposition from parliament and public outcry. The deputy chief of the PSS was also arrested for obstructing the police operation, further highlighting the internal conflict within the security apparatus.
