SEOUL: South Korean authorities arrested impeached President Yoon Suk Yeol on Wednesday (Jan 15) over insurrection accusations related to his Dec 3 martial law declaration, investigators said, ending weeks of tense political standoff.
Since lawmakers voted to stand him down after his stunning, short-lived declaration of martial law, Yoon has been holed up at his hillside residence, guarded by a small army of personal security that blocked a previous arrest attempt.
His arrest, the first ever for an incumbent president, is the latest head-spinning development for one of Asia's most vibrant democracies even though the country has a history of prosecuting and imprisoning former leaders.
Yoon's presidential motorcade left the hillside residence and later arrived at the offices of the anti-corruption agency heading the probe.
"The Joint Investigation Headquarters executed an arrest warrant for President Yoon Suk Yeol today at 10.33am (0130 GMT)," authorities, who are probing Yoon on insurrection charges, said in a statement.
Authorities now have 48 hours to question Yoon, after which they must seek a warrant to detain him for up to 20 days or release him.