Official ruling from the South Korean Constitutional Court

South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol Arrested Over Failed Martial Law, 86 Detained Amid Violent Protests

Jan 19, 2025, 05:37 AM

South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol has been arrested on charges related to a failed martial law declaration, marking the first time a sitting president has been detained in the country's history. The arrest warrant was issued by the Seoul Western District Court, which cited concerns over potential evidence tampering as the reason for the detention. Following the announcement of Yoon's arrest, his supporters stormed the court, leading to violent clashes with police and significant damage to the court building. The unrest resulted in the arrest of 86 individuals, with some supporters even targeting the Constitutional Court. In response to the violence, the police and prosecutors have vowed to take strict action against those involved, forming dedicated teams to investigate the rioters. President Yoon, now detained in a 3.6평 cell at Seoul Detention Center, has refused to comply with the initial investigation by the Corruption Investigation Office for High-ranking Officials (CIO), stating there was nothing more to say. The CIO has rescheduled the investigation for the following morning at 10 a.m. and is considering forced attendance or visiting Yoon at the detention center if he continues to refuse cooperation. The political fallout from Yoon's arrest and the subsequent riots has been significant, with various political figures and parties expressing their views on the matter, ranging from criticism of the violence to calls for constitutional reform. The riots led to 40 injuries, with 41 reports of injuries to emergency services, and resulted in 80 individuals being arrested, including 45 caught in the act. The police reported that 9 officers were injured, with 4 suffering serious injuries, while 35 sustained minor injuries and 7 had injuries requiring over three weeks to heal. A dedicated team of 9 prosecutors has been formed to handle the case.