Seoul, South Korea
CNN
—
South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol was detained for questioning on Wednesday, the latest chapter in a week-long political saga that began with the embattled president’s shock martial law decree last month.
Yoon left his residential complex with investigators in a motorcade – the first time such action has been taken against a sitting president in South Korea.
Yoon is wanted for questioning in several criminal investigations related to his short-lived statement, including charges of leading an insurrection – a crime punishable by life imprisonment or even the death penalty.
On Wednesday evening, Yoon refused to answer questions or comments from investigators and refused to allow the sessions to be recorded, an official with the Corruption Investigation Office for Senior Officials (CIO) told reporters.
Yoon was transferred from IOC headquarters to a nearby detention center, where he is being held overnight in solitary confinement “for security reasons,” the facility told CNN.
The embattled president had been holed up in his fortified residence for weeks, surrounded by his Presidential Security Service team, avoiding arrest as he faced multiple investigations and an impeachment trial.
The Corruption Investigation Office (CIO), which is working with police and the Defense Ministry to investigate Yoon, first tried to arrest him earlier this month, but failed after a confrontation of several hours during which soldiers and members of presidential security blocked some 80 police officers and investigators from approaching the presidential complex.
After his arrest on Wednesday, Yoon released a video message calling investigations into him “illegal” and saying “the rule of law in this country has completely collapsed.” He said he cooperated with investigators to prevent violent clashes.
“As President who must protect the constitution and legal system of the Republic of Korea, responding to these illegal and invalid procedures is not an acknowledgment of them, but the hope of preventing further bloodshed. recommendable,” he said.
The warrant allows investigators to detain Yoon for up to 48 hours from the time he was arrested until around 10 a.m. Friday local time. The IOC will have to request an arrest warrant within this period to keep him in detention.
Groups of Yoon’s supporters and opponents were present Wednesday, with videos from Reuters and CNN affiliate YTN showing protesters stopping on buses and gathering in the streets around Yoon’s compound, despite freezing conditions.
Some protesters chanted “resign,” “your time is up,” and “take responsibility,” while supporters of the embattled president chanted “invalid impeachment,” “a free Republic of Korea, hurray!” and “we won!”
Many of those supporting the leader – widely seen as a conservative firebrand and staunch US ally who is tough on China and North Korea – also held signs with the phrase “Stop the Stele” printed in English, while as others waved American flags.
A YTN video showed a large sign on the back of a bus reading “Insurgency Department – Yoon Suk Yeol” in Korean – a typical slogan of anti-Yoon protests since the president issued his martial law decree last month.
On Wednesday evening, a man set himself on fire near the IOC office, Reuters reported. The man, aged around 60, was seriously burned, Reuters reported, citing the South Korean Fie agency.
A court approved an arrest warrant for the president earlier this month after Yoon, a former prosecutor, refused to respond to three summons from investigators in recent weeks seeking his cooperation, according to the IOC.
Yoon declared martial law in a surprise late-night speech on December 3, saying opposition lawmakers had “paralyzed state affairs” and that the move was necessary to “protect a liberal South Korea » threats posed by “anti-state elements”.
National Assembly members, including some from Yoon’s own party, voted to overturn the declaration about six hours later. Yoon’s order faced fierce backlash from the public and lawmakers across the political spectrum, rekindling painful memories of the country’s authoritarian past.
Yoon’s lawyers reiterated that the arrest warrant was “an illegal and invalid warrant” and vowed to take legal action against its execution. Supporters of the suspended president also insisted that the measures taken against him were against South Korean law.
Yoon has remained defiant in the face of ongoing investigations and impeachment trial in one of the nation’s highest courts.
The former prosecutor turned politician was stripped of his presidential powers last month after Parliament voted to impeach him under the decree. The country’s Constitutional Court now has the final say on whether he will be officially removed from office or reinstated.
The first day of Yoon’s impeachment trial began Tuesday, but ended after just four minutes when the president refused to appear. The trial, which could last up to six months, is expected to resume on Thursday and will continue with or without Yoon’s presence.
In the weeks since Yoon declared martial law, the country has been in political disarray, with Parliament also voting to impeach its prime minister and acting president Han Duck-soo, just weeks after voting in favor of Yoon’s impeachment. Finance Minister Choi Sang-mok is now acting president.
The Constitutional Court has pledged to consider the case against Yoon as a “top priority”, along with other impeachment proceedings that the opposition has called for against members of Yoon’s administration, including the minister of Justice, prosecutors and other senior officials.
This story has been updated.
