The Anti-Corruption Agency in South Korea announced on Wednesday that authorities arrested the suspended President Yoon Seok-youl at the presidential office in the capital, Seoul, as part of an investigation into his attempt to impose martial law on December 3rd of last year.

Details of the arrest

The police stormed the presidential office in downtown Seoul to execute the arrest orders for the president and search his residence. The operation took about two and a half hours, amid tight security measures and large crowds gathering to support the ousted president.

At the beginning of the operation, the police faced resistance from the presidential security service, which tried to prevent them from entering the office by setting up a barrier using vehicles. A group of lawmakers from the ruling "People Power" party and the president's lawyers also joined in the obstruction.

Statements from the lawyers and supporters of the president

Yoon Jae-kyun, one of the president's lawyers, stated:

“What happened today is not a fair enforcement of the law, but an illegal action that reflects clear bias.”

Outside the office, around 7,000 supporters of the president gathered to express their support for him, leading to physical clashes between them and the investigators.

Background of the case

The ousted president had been removed from office by parliament on December 14, 2024, and refused to comply with police orders that tried to arrest him earlier, specifically on January 3rd, as he fortified himself inside the presidential office under the protection of the presidential security service.

Significant security reinforcements

The authorities deployed 3,000 police officers to secure the operation and face the increasing crowds, while a convoy of vehicles believed to carry President Yoon left for the detention center.

It is worth mentioning that the case has sparked widespread division in South Korean society, with supporters of the president viewing his trial as politically motivated, while his opponents insist on holding him accountable for his actions.