Official announcement from the Constitutional Court of South Korea

South Korea's President Yoon Arrested on Insurrection Charges, First Sitting Leader Detained

Jan 16, 2025, 01:15 AM

South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol has been arrested on insurrection charges related to his declaration of martial law last month, marking the first time a sitting president has been detained in the country's history. Yoon was taken into custody after hundreds of law enforcement officers entered his residential compound in Seoul. He is being held at the Seoul Detention Center, where he spent his first night in a 10-square-meter cell. During a 10-hour interrogation by the anti-corruption agency, Yoon refused to answer questions, invoking his right to remain silent, and has declined further questioning citing health reasons. His lawyers have filed a habeas corpus petition challenging the legality of his detention. The Constitutional Court is proceeding with his impeachment trial without his presence, after denying his lawyers' request for a delay due to his arrest. If convicted of insurrection, Yoon could face life imprisonment or the death penalty.