South Korea’s President Yoon Arrested Following Failed Martial Law Attempt

Investigators scaled ladders to enter President Yoon Suk-yeol’s compound after he refused to appear at his impeachment trial.

South Korean investigators have arrested suspended President Yoon Suk-yeol, just under six weeks after he attempted to impose martial law—a move that was quickly overturned by the National Assembly.

“The Joint Investigation Headquarters carried out an arrest warrant for President Yoon Suk-yeol today, January 15, at 10:33 am (01:30 GMT),” authorities said in a statement. They are investigating Yoon on charges of insurrection.

South Korean investigators used ladders to access the residential compound of impeached President Yoon Suk-yeol earlier on Wednesday, according to Yonhap.

Initially, the investigators were blocked by the Presidential Security Service, which used vehicles to barricade the entrance, along with a group of lawmakers from the ruling People Power Party and Yoon’s lawyers, Yonhap reported.

Seok Dong-hyeon, a long-time friend and adviser to Yoon, later stated that the president was willing to participate in questioning if authorities withdrew from his residence, as reported by Reuters.

Acting President Choi Sang-mok urged calm, warning that those responsible for any violence would be held accountable. The standoff at President Yoon Suk-yeol’s residence occurred after he missed the first hearing of his impeachment trial over his brief martial law imposition on December 3.

Around 1,000 police officers were involved in the arrest operation, while thousands of supporters gathered outside. This was the second attempt to arrest Yoon after an earlier standoff in early January. Yoon has remained at his villa in Seoul, evading arrest, and missed the impeachment trial on Tuesday, leading to an adjournment. His lawyers claimed his detention efforts prevented him from attending.