South Korean President Arrested

• 19.01.2025, 11:35

For the first time in history.

On Sunday, January 19, the Seoul Western District Court issued an arrest warrant for ousted President Yoon Suk Yeol. He is suspected of attempting to stage a coup and abuse of power, writes the South Korean Yonhap News Agency. Recall that the South Korean president was detained on January 15 for abuse of power.

Citing the risk of destroying evidence, a judge at the Seoul Western District Court issued an arrest warrant for Yoon on charges of insurrection and abuse of power when he declared martial law on December 3 and sent troops to the National Assembly to prevent lawmakers from rejecting the decree.

The Chief Corruption Investigation Office (CIO) plans to hand Yoon over to prosecutors in 10 days. The prosecution is then expected to continue its investigation and bring charges before the 20 days are up. The term will include the days that the South Korean politician has already spent in the detention center.

As noted by the Yonhap agency, this is the first arrest of a sitting president in the modern history of South Korea.

Yun Seok-yul introduced martial law in South Korea on December 3. It was in effect in the country for several hours - it was quickly blocked by the parliament. On December 8, Defence Minister Kim Yong Hyun was arrested.

Yun has been suspended from presidential duties since December 14, when the parliament voted to impeach him. But in order to remove him from office, the impeachment must be approved by the Constitutional Court of South Korea. Until the end of the consideration of the case, the politician is under the protection of the Presidential Security Service.