South Korean President complies to arrest, says avoiding 'bloodshed'

By Al Mayadeen English
Source: News websites
15 Jan 2025 08:30

South Korean investigators have mandated the arrest of President Yoon Suk-Yeol following weeks of standoff.

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Supporters of impeached South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol attend a rally to oppose his impeachment near the Corruption Investigation Office for High-Ranking Officials in Gwacheon, South Korea, on January 15, 2025. (AP)

South Korean authorities arrested impeached President Yoon Suk Yeol on Wednesday over allegations of insurrection, marking the first arrest of a sitting president in the country.

Although Yoon coined the investigation unlawful, he ultimately complied with the decision to avoid "bloodshed".

This comes after South Korea's Constitutional Court adjourned the opening session of the suspended president's impeachment trial within minutes on Tuesday after the embattled leader failed to attend court.

A lawyer advising Yoon had said the president, who has been holed up in his hillside villa in Seoul for weeks, would not attend. He said authorities' bid to detain him prevented Yoon from expressing his position at the trial.

After lawmakers voted to have him removed following his brief declaration of martial law on December 3, Yoon Suk Yeol stayed in his hillside residence under heavy personal security, thwarting an earlier arrest attempt. However, on Wednesday, Yoon surrendered to questioning, stating he wanted to prevent violence as over 3,000 police officers moved to detain him.

"I decided to respond to the CIO's investigation - despite it being an illegal investigation - to prevent unsavory bloodshed," Yoon said in a statement, referring to the Corruption Investigation Office for High-ranking Officials (CIO) heading the probe.

Authorities have 48 hours to interrogate him, after which they must either secure a warrant for his detention for up to 20 days or release him.

South Koreans show support for Yoon

The pre-dawn arrest attempt captivated South Korea, with live broadcasts showing police arriving near the presidential residence, confronting Yoon's supporters, and using ladders and wire cutters to breach the compound gates.

Minor scuffles broke out between pro-Yoon protesters and police, while supporters gathered in freezing temperatures, some waving "Stop the Steal" flags referencing Yoon's baseless election fraud claims, which he used to justify declaring martial law.

Some Yoon supporters likened his situation to that of former US President Donald Trump, citing shared election fraud allegations. Protester Kim Woo-sub expressed hope for Trump’s support, emphasizing the US-South Korea alliance against China.

Although most South Koreans disapprove of Yoon's actions and back his impeachment, his supporters and the People Power Party (PPP) have gained momentum. A recent Realmeter poll showed PPP support at 40.8%, nearly equal to the opposition Democratic Party's 42.2%, narrowing a significant gap from the previous week.