Introduction:

South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol arrested on Wednesday over allegations of insurrection. The embattled leader stated that he chose to cooperate with what he described as an unlawful investigation in order to prevent “bloodshed.”

Why is South korean president arrested ?

This marks the first time an incumbent president has been arrested in South Korea, a significant development in one of Asia’s most dynamic democracies, which has a history of prosecuting former leaders.

Since his impeachment following a brief declaration of martial law on December 3, Yoon had remained at his hillside residence, heavily guarded by a private security detail that had previously thwarted an arrest attempt.

On Wednesday, over 3,000 police officers surrounded Yoon’s residence to execute the arrest. Yoon, however, claimed he voluntarily submitted himself to questioning to avoid any violent confrontations.

“I chose to cooperate with the CIO’s investigation – even though it is an illegal probe – to prevent unnecessary bloodshed,” Yoon said in a statement, referring to the Corruption Investigation Office for High-ranking Officials (CIO), which is leading the case.

Yoon was later seen leaving his residence in a motorcade and arriving at the CIO offices. Authorities now have 48 hours to interrogate him before deciding whether to request a detention warrant, which would allow them to hold him for up to 20 days, or release him.

Yoon’s legal team has contested the legality of the arrest, arguing that the warrant was issued by a court lacking proper jurisdiction and that the investigation team itself lacked legal authority.

Yoon’s declaration of martial law had sent shockwaves across South Korea, disrupted the country’s economy—the fourth-largest in Asia—and triggered unprecedented political instability in a key U.S. ally. Lawmakers voted to impeach him and suspend his duties on December 14.

Meanwhile, the Constitutional Court is reviewing the impeachment decision to determine whether to permanently remove Yoon from office or reinstate his presidential powers.