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Yoon Suk Yeol’s lawyers said the impeached leader voluntarily surrendered for questioning after multiple failed attempts to arrest him
South Korean authorities have detained President Yoon Suk Yeol for questioning over his brief declaration of martial law last month, according to Yonhap News Agency.
On December 3, Yoon declared martial law, citing threats from “anti-state” forces. This highly controversial move was swiftly overruled and led to his impeachment by the National Assembly on December 14, with a vote of 204-85. The Constitutional Court is currently deliberating on whether to permanently remove him from office, a decision that must be made within 180 days.
Following his impeachment, Yoon confined himself to the presidential residence in Seoul, prompting multiple attempts by authorities to detain him for questioning.
An initial attempt on January 3 was thwarted by the Presidential Security Service, resulting in a tense standoff. A second attempt on January 15 saw a significant police presence, with approximately 1,000 officers deployed to enforce the arrest warrant.
Yoon’s supporters have actively protested against his detention. Clashes between them and law enforcement have caused injuries, raising concerns about potential violence if force is used to detain the president.
Defending his actions, Yoon stated that his declaration of martial law was a legitimate move to protect the nation. In a statement released on January 1, he vowed to “fight alongside you to the very end to protect this nation,” addressing his supporters.
