South Korea’s ousted former President Yoon Suk Yeol.
| Photo Credit: AP

South Korea’s former President Yoon Suk Yeol.
| Photo Credit: AP

Former South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol. File
| Photo Credit: Reuters

Former South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol arrives at a court to attend a hearing to review his arrest warrant requested by special prosecutors in Seoul, South Korea, on July 9, 2025.
| Photo Credit: Reuters

Former South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol. File.
| Photo Credit: AP

Police officers stand guard at the front gate of the Seoul Western District Court in Seoul, South Korea, Sunday, Jan. 19, 2025.
| Photo Credit: AP

South Korea’s impeached President Yoon Suk Yeol was formally arrested early on Sunday (January 19, 2025), days after being apprehended at his presidential compound in Seoul. He faces possible imprisonment over his ill-fated declaration of martial law last month.

Mr. Yoon’s arrest could mark the beginning of an extended period in custody, lasting months or more.

The decision to arrest Mr. Yoon triggered unrest at the Seoul Western District Court, where dozens of his supporters destroyed the court’s main door and windows. They used plastic chairs and police shields that they managed to wrestle away from officers. Some got inside the building and were seen throwing objects and using fire extinguishers.

Hundreds of police officers were deployed to suppress the riot at the court. Nearly 90 protesters were arrested onsite, while some injured police officers were seen being treated at ambulance vans. It wasn’t immediately clear whether any court staff were injured.

Following eight hours of deliberation, the court granted law enforcement’s request for an arrest warrant for Mr. Yoon, saying he was a threat to destroy evidence. Mr. Yoon and his lawyers on Saturday appeared before the court and argued for his release.

Mr. Yoon, who has been in detention since he was apprehended Wednesday in a massive law enforcement operation at his residential compound, faces potential rebellion charges linked to his declaration of martial law on Dec. 3, which set off the country’s most serious political crisis since its democratization in the late 1980s.

The Corruption Investigation Office for High-Ranking Officials, which is leading a joint investigation with police and the military, can now extend Mr. Yoon’s detention to 20 days, during which they will transfer the case to public prosecutors for indictment.

Mr. Yoon’s lawyers could also file a petition to challenge the court’s arrest warrant.

Mr. Yoon’s appearance in court triggered chaotic scenes in nearby streets, where thousands of his fervent supporters rallied for hours calling for his release. Even before the court issued the warrant for Mr. Yoon’s arrest, protesters repeatedly clashed with police who detained dozens of them, including about 20 who climbed over a fence in an attempt to approach the court. At least two vehicles carrying anti-corruption investigators were damaged as they left the court after arguing for Mr. Yoon’s arrest.

Mr. Yoon’s lawyers said he spoke for about 40 minutes to the judge during the nearly five-hour closed-door hearing Saturday. His legal team and anti-corruption agencies presented opposing arguments about whether he should be held in custody.

Mr. Yoon’s Defence Minister, police chief and several top military commanders have already been arrested and indicted for their roles in the enforcement of martial law.

The crisis began when Mr. Yoon, in an attempt to break through legislative gridlock, imposed military rule and sent troops to the National Assembly and election offices. The standoff lasted only hours after lawmakers who managed to get through a blockade voted to lift the measure. The opposition-dominated assembly voted to impeach him on Dec. 14.

His political fate now lies with the Constitutional Court, which is deliberating whether to formally remove him from office or reinstate him.

Seok Dong-hyeon, one of Mr. Yoon’s lawyers, called the court’s decision to issue the warrant “the epitome of anti-constitutionalism and anti-rule of law,” maintaining the president’s claim that his martial law decree was a legitimate act of governance. He pointed to the chaos at the Seoul Western Court and said Yoon’s arrest would inspire more anger from his supporters. Mr. Yoon’s People Power Party regretted his arrest but also pleaded for his supporters to refrain from further violence.

The liberal opposition Democratic Party, which drove the legislative effort to impeach Mr. Yoon on Dec. 14, said his arrest would be a “cornerstone for restoring the collapsed constitutional order.”

Mr. Yoon was transported to the court from a detention centre in Uiwang, near Seoul, in a blue Justice Ministry van escorted by police and the presidential security service, to attend the hearing at the court ahead of its warrant decision.

The motorcade entered the court’s basement parking space as thousands of Mr. Yoon’s supporters gathered in nearby streets amid a heavy police presence. Following the hearing, Mr. Yoon was transported back to the detention center, where he awaited the decision. He did not speak to reporters.

After its investigators were attacked by protesters later on Saturday, the anti-corruption agency asked media companies to obscure the faces of its members attending the hearing.

Mr. Yoon and his lawyers have claimed that the martial law declaration was intended as a temporary and “peaceful” warning to the liberal opposition, which he accuses of obstructing his agenda with its legislative majority. Mr. Yoon says the troops sent to the National Election Commission offices were to investigate election fraud allegations, which remains unsubstantiated in South Korea.

Mr. Yoon has stressed he had no intention of stopping the functioning of the legislature. He stated that the troops were sent there to maintain order, not prevent lawmakers from entering and voting to lift martial law. He denied allegations that he ordered the arrests of key politicians and election officials.

Military commanders, however, have described a deliberate attempt to seize the legislature that was thwarted by hundreds of civilians and legislative staff who helped lawmakers enter the assembly, and by the troops’ reluctance or refusal to follow Mr. Yoon’s orders.

If prosecutors indict Mr. Yoon on rebellion and abuse of power charges, which are the allegations now being examined by investigators, they could keep him in custody for up to six months before trial.

If the first court convicts him and issues a prison term, Mr. Yoon would serve that sentence as the case possibly moves up to the Seoul High Court and Supreme Court. Under South Korean law, orchestrating a rebellion is punishable by life imprisonment or the death penalty.

Seoul:

South Korean investigators have called in arrested President Yoon Suk Yeol for questioning again, the Yonhap News Agency reported, as authorities face a Friday deadline to obtain a warrant to extend his detention or release the embattled leader.

In order to hold Yoon in custody for longer, investigators are expected on Friday to ask a court to approve a detention warrant for up to 20 days, legal experts said.

On Wednesday, Yoon became the first sitting South Korean president to be arrested over a probe into whether he committed insurrection when he briefly imposed martial law in early December. He is being held at the Seoul Detention Centre.

Although Yoon’s lawyers challenged the legality of Yoon’s arrest, the Seoul Central District Court struck down their challenge late on Thursday, ruling that Yoon’s arrest was legal.

Yoon has been recalled for questioning at 10 a.m. (0100 GMT) on Friday, Yonhap reported, citing the Corruption Investigation Office for High-ranking Officials (CIO) which is leading the criminal inquiry. The CIO did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

It was unclear whether Yoon, who has up to now refused to answer questions put to him by investigators, would agree to attend questioning on Friday. A day earlier, Yoon refused to be questioned, with his lawyer citing his health as a factor for his absence.

Authorities have 48 hours to question the impeached president, after which they must release him or seek a warrant to detain him for up to 20 days.

The 48-hour countdown is expected to end on Friday evening after it was paused to allow a court to review the challenge to his arrest, Yonhap said, citing the CIO.

Yoon’s lawyer Seok Dong-hyeon said on Friday investigators were expected to seek a detention warrant, adding “we hope that there will be more careful and comprehensive consideration” of the arrest’s “illegality” when a court reviews the warrant.

South Korea is grappling with its worst political crisis in decades, sparked by Yoon’s brief attempt to impose martial law on Dec. 3 that was voted down by parliament.

Neighbouring North Korea has largely avoided public comment on the political chaos in Seoul, but Yoon’s arrest was reported in state media on Friday, two days after the event.

The Rodong Sinmun newspaper cited foreign media to say it was the first arrest of an incumbent president in South Korea.

“Yoon Suk Yeol is not following legal procedures at the expense of the national order for individual interests,” Rodong Sinmun said.

(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)

Seoul:

South Korean authorities on Wednesday arrested impeached President Yoon Suk Yeol over insurrection accusations related to his brief declaration of martial law on December 3, investigators said. He is the first sitting president in South Korea’s history to be arrested.

According to reports, the suspended President was seen leaving his heavily fortified residence in central Seoul in a convoy to the offices of the Corruption Investigation Office (CIO) after a joint team of investigators and police said they had executed the arrest warrant.

Mr Yoon had been holed up at his hillside residence for weeks, behind a small army of personal security to avoid arrest. His lawyers have argued attempts to detain the impeached Presidnet were illegal and were designed to publicly humiliate him.

On Wednesday morning, his lawyer announced that the president had agreed to speak to investigators and that he had decided to leave the residence to prevent a “serious incident”.

“President Yoon has decided to personally appear at the Corruption Investigation Office today,” Seok Dong-hyeon said on Facebook, adding that Yoon would also deliver a speech.

More than 3,000 police officers and anti-corruption investigators gathered at his residence before dawn, pushing through throngs of Yoon supporters and members of his ruling People Power Party protesting attempts to detain him.

Shortly after, investigators announced that Mr Yoon had been arrested. “The Joint Investigation Headquarters executed an arrest warrant for President Yoon Suk Yeol today (January 15) at 10:33 am (0130 GMT),” they said in a statement.

Following his arrest, Yoon can be held for up to 48 hours on the existing warrant. Investigators would need to apply for another arrest warrant to keep him in custody.

It was their second effort to arrest Yoon.

A first attempt on January 3 failed after a tense hours-long standoff with members of Yoon’s official Presidential Security Service (PSS), who refused to budge when investigators tried to execute their warrant.

Mr Yoon’s declaration of martial law last month stunned South Koreans and plunged one of Asia’s most vibrant democracies into an unprecedented period of political turmoil. Lawmakers voted to impeach him and remove him from duties on December 14.

Separately, the Constitutional Court is deliberating over whether to uphold that impeachment and permanently remove him from office. Mr Yoon’s impeachment trial began Tuesday with a brief hearing after he declined to attend.

Although his failure to attend — which his team has blamed on purported safety concerns — forced a procedural adjournment, the hearings will continue without Yoon, with the next set for Thursday.

Seoul:

South Korean investigators made a fresh attempt to arrest impeached President Yoon Suk Yeol on Wednesday over a failed martial law bid, but were involved in clashes after being blocked by his guards.

Yoon has resisted arrest since a short-lived December 3 power grab plunged the country into its worst political crisis in decades, after he directed soldiers to storm parliament in an unsuccessful attempt to stop lawmakers voting down his move.

The former star prosecutor, who has already been suspended from duty by lawmakers, would become the first sitting president in South Korean history to be arrested if the court-ordered warrant is carried out.

“The execution of the presidential arrest warrant has begun,” acting President Choi Sang-mok said in a statement.

“This situation is a crucial moment for maintaining order and the rule of law in South Korea.”

On a morning of high drama, a joint team of investigators from the Corruption Investigation Office (CIO) and police officers tried to enter the residence’s compound but were blocked by unidentified personnel at the entrance gate, AFP journalists saw.

Investigators were then involved in a “physical clash” as they tried to forcibly enter the residence, Yonhap reported, without specifying who with.

Punches were thrown as the rival sides pushed each other in the clashes between investigators and those defending the residence, an AFP journalist saw.

At least one person was injured after collapsing during the standoff. They were transported away by fire authorities.

Yoon’s lawyers were seen in front of the residence protesting the arrest warrant’s execution, and later a white police van tried to enter the compound without success.

Choi, standing in for suspended Yoon, said those who caused any unrest at the site would be punished.

“If there are serious violations leading to unfortunate incidents, I will hold them strictly accountable as the acting president,” he said.

A first attempt to arrest Yoon on January 3 failed after a tense hours-long standoff with his Presidential Security Service (PSS), who refused to budge when investigators tried to execute their warrant.

– Supporters removed –

Investigators were also attempting to enter the residence through an alternative mountain hiking trail near the official residence, according to Yonhap News TV.

The main road in front of Yoon’s residence was completely blocked off with police bus barricades early Wednesday, while thousands of his die-hard supporters massed outside.

His supporters were heard chanting “illegal warrant!” while waving glow sticks and South Korean and American flags.

Police and CIO officers began forcibly removing them from the entrance to the residence while around 30 lawmakers from Yoon’s ruling People Power Party were blocking investigators, Yonhap News TV reported.

Since the first failed attempt, authorities have threatened to detain anyone who obstructs the sitting leader’s arrest in the fresh attempt.

Police said they would execute an arrest warrant against the acting head of Yoon’s presidential guards, Yonhap News TV said Wednesday.

– Parallel trial –

Yoon’s guards have been seen in recent days installing barbed wire and barricades at the residence, turning it into what the opposition called a “fortress”.

Due to the tense situation, police decided not to carry firearms but only to wear bulletproof vests for the new attempt Wednesday, in case they were met by armed guards, local media reported.

If arrested, Yoon can be held for up to 48 hours on the existing warrant. Investigators would need to apply for another arrest warrant to keep him in custody.

Yoon’s legal team — who say he remains inside the residence — has decried the warrant as illegal and his chief of staff on Tuesday made an appeal for the arrest efforts to stop.

In a parallel probe, Yoon’s impeachment trial began on Tuesday with a brief hearing after he declined to attend.

Although his failure to attend — which his team have blamed on purported safety concerns — forced a procedural adjournment, the hearings will continue without Yoon, with the next set for Thursday.

(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)

Members of the Presidential Security Service gather behind the entrance of the official residence of impeached South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol, as authorities, including the Corruption Investigation Office for High-ranking Officials, are seeking to execute an arrest warrant, in Seoul, South Korea, January 15, 2025.
| Photo Credit: Reuters

Two vehicles belonging to South Korean investigators probing impeached President Yoon Suk Yeol arrived outside his official residence early Wednesday as they prepared to execute a new arrest warrant, Yonhap News TV reported.

It came as thousands of the embattled leader’s die-hard supporters massed outside the presidential residence in the capital Seoul to protect Mr. Yoon, AFP reporters saw.

Mr. Yoon’s short-lived December 3 imposition of martial law plunged the country into its worst political crisis in decades, after he directed soldiers to storm parliament in an unsuccessful attempt to stop lawmakers voting down his move.

“Two CIO vehicles have arrived in front of the (presidential) residence,” Yonhap News TV reported, referring to the Corruption Investigation Office that is probing Mr. Yoon’s declaration.

If the court-ordered warrant is successfully executed, Mr. Yoon would become the first sitting president in South Korean history to be arrested.

But a first attempt to arrest Mr. Yoon on January 3 failed after a tense hours-long standoff with his presidential guards, who refused to budge when investigators tried to execute their warrant.

A joint team of the CIO and police have since secured a new warrant and massed as many as 1,000 personnel for Wednesday’s attempt to detain Mr. Yoon, according to local media reports.

They have also threatened to detain any guards who obstruct the sitting leader’s arrest.

Personnel who appeared to be guarding the entrance from outsiders were seen walking from the residence towards its entrance gate early Wednesday, AFP reporters saw.

Supporters of Mr. Yoon were also heard chanting “illegal warrant!” while waving glow sticks and South Korean and American flags.

Parallel trial

Mr. Yoon’s guards have been seen in recent days installing barbed wire and bus barricades at the residence, turning it into what the opposition called a “fortress”.

There was heightened security around his compound in central Seoul with dozens of police buses and scores of uniformed police lining the street outside, AFP reporters saw.

If arrested, Mr. Yoon can be held for up to 48 hours on the existing warrant. Investigators would need to apply for another arrest warrant to keep him in custody.

Mr. Yoon’s legal team — who say he remains inside the residence — has decried the warrant as illegal and his chief of staff on Tuesday made an appeal for the arrest efforts to stop.

Chung Jin-suk said his office was “ready to consider all options for investigation or visits” to the sitting leader “at a third location”.

In a parallel probe, Mr. Yoon’s impeachment trial began on Tuesday with a brief hearing after he declined to attend.

Although his failure to attend — which his team have blamed on purported safety concerns — forced a procedural adjournment, the hearings will continue without Yoon, with the next set for Thursday.

Additional hearings are scheduled for January 21, January 23 and February 4.