Investigators in South Korea on Wednesday impeached President Yoon Suk Yeol in connection with his attempt to impose martial law in the country, news agency Yonhap reported.
This is the first time an incumbent South Korean president has been arrested. He is being questioned in multiple investigations, including allegations of leading an insurrection, a crime which is punishable by life imprisonment or death.
On December 14, South Korea’s Parliament Yoon, 12 days after his failed attempt to impose martial law in the country. Since then, he has been and protected by presidential security, which thwarted an earlier attempt to arrest him on January 3.
On Wednesday, Yoon was arrested by the Corruption Investigation Office for High-ranking Officials, an independent agency under the South Korean government, after a warrant was issued earlier in the day.
More than 3,000 police officers marched on his residence to arrest him, according to Reuters.
The authorities can detain Yoon for 48 hours for questioning. However, they need to obtain another warrant to arrest him for up to 20 days after this period or release him.
“Although it is an illegal investigation, I decided to agree to appear at the CIO [Corruption Investigation Office for High-ranking Officials] in order to prevent ugly bloodshed,” Yonhap quoted Yoon...