South Korea’s President Yoon Suk Yeol arrested after stand-off with police

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Suspended South Korean President Yoon Suk-yeol was arrested Wednesday morning following a pre-dawn raid by police and investigators on his fortified hilltop compound.

Yoon’s arrest came after a six-hour standoff between law enforcement officials and members of the president’s bodyguard. This is the first time in South Korean history that a sitting president has been arrested.

The development represents the latest twist in a political crisis sparked by his failed attempt to impose martial law last month, which has shaken confidence in the democratic integrity of Asia’s fourth-largest economy.

Yoon was suspended from his duties after Parliament impeached him in December following his attempt to impose martial law. The country is currently led by Finance Minister Choi Sang-mok as acting president.

Wednesday’s operation, which began shortly after 4 a.m., was the second attempt this month by the CIO to detain Yoon for questioning on charges of sedition and abuse of office.

An initial attempt was foiled by Yoon’s protection officers earlier this month after a tense, hours-long standoff at the presidential residence. Yoon had previously refused to comply with investigators and challenged their authority to bring him in for questioning.

“The rule of law has completely collapsed in this country,” Yoon said in a video statement recorded before he was taken to the headquarters of the country’s Corruption Investigation Bureau for questioning. “I have decided to appear to interrogate the CIO in order to prevent any bloodshed.”

According to South Korea’s state-owned Yonhap news agency, police and officials from the Director of Information arrived at the complex early Wednesday and served an arrest warrant for Yoon, but the presidential security service again barred them from entering.

Yonhap also reported that about 30 lawmakers from Yoon’s conservative People Power Party were at the complex and tried to prevent officials from entering.

But as hundreds of police gathered outside, some equipped with ladders and wire cutters, to overcome barricades set up by Yoon’s protection officers, CIO officials were eventually allowed into the house.

Yoon’s lawyers initially tried to broker a deal in which Yoon would voluntarily surrender to questioning. But this was not accepted by the CIO officials, and he was eventually arrested after 10:30 a.m. and taken to the investigating agency headquarters.

“Yon’s arrest is the first step toward restoring our constitutional order,” said Park Chan-dae, leader of the leftist opposition Democratic Party of Korea. “It confirms that justice is still alive.”

Although Yoon’s powers have been transferred to Choi as acting president, he remains the head of state of South Korea while the country’s Constitutional Court deliberates on whether to approve his removal or reinstatement.

The court held its first formal hearing on Yoon’s impeachment on Tuesday, but the hearing was postponed after four minutes because the suspended president refused to attend, citing concerns for his personal safety.

Efforts by the CIO and police to detain Yoon for questioning relate to a separate criminal operation linked to his failure to impose martial law. Yoon’s lawyers insist that the CIO has no right to pursue criminal sedition charges against him.