Impeached South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol arrives at the Corruption Investigation Office for High-ranking Officials in Gwacheon, South Korea, Wednesday, Jan. 15, 2025. (Korea Pool via AP) Associated Press/LaPresse.

After his impeachment in December, South Korea’s President Yoon has now been detained for questioning over his martial law decree, a first in South Korean history. On Dec. 3, Yoon had issued the martial law which he took back after only six hours due to an Assembly vote and massive protests.

The street protests that preceded the impeachment called also for his arrest. Now, South Koreas police and members of the Corruption Investigation Office (CIO) have detained the impeached President Yoon[1] on accusations of insurrection. On Wednesday morning, the authorities picked Yoon up at his residence where he had barricaded himself with the help of the Presidential Security Service.

The police had already tried to serve Yoon a court warrant at his residence on Jan. 3. However, instead of returning with President Yoon for questioning, the police had to leave empty-handed after an hourlong stand-off with 200 security officials. Due to this, the police force showed up with 1,000 officers on Wednesday. Armed with ladders to climb the barricades of buses that blocked the road to Yoon’s house and warning to the security that their resistance would be viewed as obstruction of justice, the investigators still had to argue their way into Yoon’s residence. [2]

Even though Yoon was directly escorted to an interrogation room, where investigators were said to have 200 pages of questions for him, he made clear beforehand to remain silent. In a video message, Yoon called the investigation and the warrant illegal and claimed to cooperate to avoid a clash between his security and the police. [2]

The investigators have 48 hours to interrogate him, which were up on Friday morning local time. Now, a warrant to formally arrest Yoon has been requested. The request by CIO was filed at 5.40p.m. local time, “accusing Yoon of leading an insurrection and abuse of power in connection with his short-lived imposition of martial law on Dec. 3” [3]. The court hearing for the granting of a warrant is scheduled for Saturday.

At the same time, the South Korean Constitutional Court began their look into Yoon’s impeachment this week. The court has six months to decide whether to confirm the impeachment or declare it unconstitutional. After their decision, Yoon will either be reinstated as President, or South Korea will hold new elections within two months. It is feared that a new election would deepen the political divide in South Korea.

The continued street protests for and against Yoon show the public split, but the political environment is becoming more hostile too. Yoon’s People Power Party refuses to accept the president’s impeachment and detention.[2]

[1] Yoon Suk Yeol: Ermittler nehmen Südkoreas suspendierten Präsidenten fest | ZEIT ONLINE

[2] South Korea President Yoon Is Detained for Questioning Over Martial Law – The New York Times

[3] (2nd LD) Investigators seek arrest warrant for Yoon over martial law bid | Yonhap News Agency