South Korea arrests impeached President Yoon in huge police effort

Defiant leader says ‘rule of law has completely collapsed’

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  South Korea's impeached President Yoon Suk Yeol arrives for questioning in Gwacheon, following his arrest. EPA

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  Law enforcement officers leave Mr Yoon's compound in Seoul. Bloomberg

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  Police officers cut a wire fence at the entrance of Mr Yoon's official residence. Reuters

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  A motorcade carrying Mr Yoon leaves the presidential residence. Bloomberg

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  A screen displays footage of Mr Yoon as supporters stage a rally to oppose his impeachment in Seoul. AP

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  A supporter of Mr Yoon argues with a police officer at the protest. Bloomberg

South Korea’s impeached President Yoon Suk Yeol was arrested on Wednesday in a large police operation, with the embattled leader defiantly insisting an investigation into him is illegal and he only complied to prevent violence.

His arrest, the first for an incumbent president, is the latest episode of turmoil for one of Asia's most vibrant democracies, which has a history of prosecuting and imprisoning former leaders.

In a video message recorded before he was escorted to the headquarters of South Korea's anti-corruption agency, Mr Yoon said the “rule of law has completely collapsed in this country”.

The operation to arrest Mr Yoon involved about 3,000 police officers after he had been holed up for weeks at his residence in Seoul while vowing to “fight to the end” against efforts to oust him. He had been guarded by a small army of personal security that blocked a previous arrest attempt.

The saga began on December 3 when Mr Yoon declared martial law for the first time in 44 years, saying it was needed to tackle “anti-state” opposition using their legislative majority to thwart his political agenda. He deployed troops around the National Assembly but legislators managed to get through the blockade and vote to lift the measure.

His declaration shocked South Koreans, rattled Asia's fourth largest economy and started an unprecedented period of political turmoil.

Parliament impeached Mr Yoon on December 14 over the martial law attempt and his presidential powers were suspended. The Constitutional Court is deliberating on whether to uphold that impeachment and permanently remove him from office or restore his powers.

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  South Korea's impeached President Yoon Suk Yeol arrives for questioning in Gwacheon, following his arrest. EPA

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  Law enforcement officers leave Mr Yoon's compound in Seoul. Bloomberg

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  Police officers cut a wire fence at the entrance of Mr Yoon's official residence. Reuters

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  A motorcade carrying Mr Yoon leaves the presidential residence. Bloomberg

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  A screen displays footage of Mr Yoon as supporters stage a rally to oppose his impeachment in Seoul. AP

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  A supporter of Mr Yoon argues with a police officer at the protest. Bloomberg

Wednesday's arrest attempt began before dawn, with hundreds of thousands of South Koreans watching live feeds showing bus loads of police arriving near the presidential residence, pushing past Mr Yoon's supporters and walking towards the gates carrying ladders and wire cutters.

Anti-corruption investigators and police officers engaged in an hours-long standoff at the compound’s gate with presidential security forces but otherwise encountered no meaningful resistance.

Some police officers used ladders to climb over rows of buses placed by the presidential security service near the compound’s entrance. Despite a court warrant for Mr Yoon’s detention, the presidential security service had insisted it was obligated to protect him.

Anti-graft officials said Mr Yoon was brought into custody about five hours after investigators arrived at the presidential compound and about three hours after they successfully entered his residence.

A convoy of black SUVs, some equipped with sirens, were seen leaving the compound with police escorts. Mr Yoon was later seen stepping out of a vehicle after arriving at the agency’s office in the nearby city of Gwacheon. He was expected to be sent to a detention centre in Uiwang, near Seoul.

The president was being held for questioning on Wednesday afternoon but was refusing to talk, an anti-corruption official told Reuters. Mr Yoon could be kept in custody for weeks. The anti-graft agency, which is leading a joint investigation with police and the military over whether the martial law declaration amounted to an attempted rebellion, has 48 hours to request a court order for a formal arrest. If it fails to do so, Mr Yoon will be released.

Mr Yoon’s lawyers have claimed that a detainment warrant issued by a Seoul court was invalid. They said the anti-corruption agency had no legal authority to investigate rebellion allegations.

“I am truly appalled to see illegalities upon illegalities upon illegalities being carried out and procedures being forcefully conducted under an invalid warrant,” Mr Yoon said in the video. “My decision to comply with such illegal and invalid procedures is not an acknowledgement of them, but rather a willingness to prevent unfortunate and bloody incidents.”

Supporters of President Yoon rally in Seoul on Wednesday. Reuters

South Korea’s acting leader, Deputy Prime Minister Choi Sang-mok, on Wednesday urged law enforcement and the presidential security service to ensure there were no “physical clashes”.

Park Chan-dae, floor leader of the liberal opposition Democratic Party, which drove the legislative campaign that led to Mr Yoon’s impeachment on December 14, said his detention was the “first step towards restoring constitutional order, democracy and realising the rule of law”.

The Constitutional Court held its first formal hearing on the impeachment case on Tuesday, but the session lasted less than five minutes because Mr Yoon refused to attend. The next hearing is set for Thursday, and the court will then proceed with the trial whether or not Mr Yoon is there.

Minor scuffles broke out between pro-Yoon protesters and police near the presidential residence on Wednesday, a Reuters reporter said. Throngs of those protesters had gathered before dawn in sub-zero temperatures.

“It is very sad to see our country falling apart,” said Kim Woo-sub, 70, who was protesting against Mr Yoon's arrest.

- With agencies