(10th LD) Impeached Yoon detained over failed martial law declaration

Politics 16:42 January 15, 2025

(ATTN: UPDATES with remarks by lawyer close to Yoon)
By Lee Haye-ah and Chae Yun-hwan

SEOUL, Jan. 15 (Yonhap) -- Investigators detained impeached President Yoon Suk Yeol at his residence on Wednesday in their second attempt to take him into custody for questioning over his short-lived imposition of martial law.

Yoon, the first sitting president to be arrested, underwent questioning for 2 1/2 hours at the headquarters of the Corruption Investigation Office for High-ranking Officials (CIO) in Gwacheon, just south of Seoul, after traveling there in a convoy that left the presidential residence compound shortly after 10:33 a.m., the time the CIO executed its warrant to detain Yoon.

"My understanding is that he is currently refusing to testify," a CIO official told reporters. "The afternoon session is scheduled to begin at 2:40 p.m."

The morning session was held inside an interrogation room and led by Lee Jae-seung, deputy chief of the CIO, with Yoon's legal representatives present. The questioning was not being recorded on video due to Yoon's objections, according to the CIO.

Yoon was spotted only once as he stepped out of a car and entered the CIO office. Investigators have 48 hours from the time of his detention to seek a warrant for his formal arrest.

Impeached President Yoon Suk Yeol appears at the Corruption Investigation Office for High-ranking Officials inside the government complex in Gwacheon, south of Seoul, on Jan. 15, 2025, after investigators from police and the anti-corruption agency executed a warrant to detain Yoon in connection to his short-lived imposition of martial law. (Pool photo) (Yonhap)

Yoon, who is suspended from duty following his impeachment by the National Assembly on Dec. 14, faces charges of insurrection and abuse of power.

He is accused of sending troops to the National Assembly after declaring martial law on the night of Dec. 3 to stop lawmakers from voting down the decree.

Yoon is expected to be held at the Seoul Detention Center in Uiwang, near the CIO's office, following questioning.

The president has defended his declaration of martial law as an "act of governance" meant to send a warning to the main opposition Democratic Party over what he described as its abuse of legislative power.

In a recorded video message released after his arrest, Yoon remained defiant, saying, "Although it is an illegal investigation, I decided to agree to appear at the CIO in order to prevent ugly bloodshed."

Yoon has consistently denied the legality of the CIO's probe, noting the agency is not technically authorized to investigate insurrection charges.

Instead, he has stated plans to appear before the Constitutional Court to defend himself there during a trial on whether to remove him from office or reinstate him.

"It's highly likely he will be kept in custody due to the CIO's cruel execution of detention, but I think he will attend (the trial) without being intimidated," Seok Dong-hyeon, a lawyer and Yoon's longtime friend, told reporters outside the Seoul High Prosecutors Office in southern Seoul.

With the CIO's questioning set to last through Thursday, however, Seok suggested the president will not appear at the second formal hearing of the trial scheduled for that day.

The arrest followed hours of talks between investigators and Yoon's side at his residence over how to detain him and take him away for questioning.

A convoy of cars presumably carrying President Yoon Suk Yeol leaves the presidential residence in Seoul to head to the headquarters of the Corruption Investigation Office for High-ranking Officials on Jan. 15, 2025. (Yonhap)

"At this point, we are not considering his voluntary appearance and our aim is to execute the warrant," a CIO official told reporters earlier.

"Unlike during the first attempt, there were no personnel or Presidential Security Service (PSS) staff actively resisting the execution," the official added. "There were practically no physical clashes today."

Investigators used ladders to enter the presidential residence compound after being blocked by the PSS, which set up a barricade using vehicles near the entrance. They were also blocked by a group of lawmakers from the ruling People Power Party and Yoon's lawyers at the entrance.

Some investigators appeared to attempt to secure access to the compound through a nearby hiking trail.

"This is not a just enforcement of the law," Yun Gap-geun, one of the lawyers, said, calling the investigators' attempt "illegal."

Police deployed some 3,000 personnel to secure access to the compound, with physical clashes taking place between investigators and Yoon's supporters. Fire authorities arrived at the scene to treat a middle-aged woman on the ground.

President Yoon Suk Yeol's supporters protest against his arrest near the headquarters of the Corruption Investigation Office for High-ranking Officials in Gwacheon, just south of Seoul, on Jan. 15, 2025. (Yonhap)

Thousands of protesters for or against Yoon's arrest have rallied outside the compound for weeks, with some camping out during the night in subzero temperatures.

When news of Yoon's detainment was heard, his supporters protested vehemently, hurling insults at the anti-Yoon ralliers and the "commie CIO."

Some stood up to take their protest to the CIO office, and by 11:30 a.m., people were gathering on a sidewalk across from its entrance.

Investigators' first attempt to detain Yoon failed early this month after an hourslong standoff with his security staff at the residence.

The Seoul Western District Court had issued warrants to search the presidential residence and detain Yoon after he snubbed three summonses from investigators to appear for questioning.

The warrants, which were granted extensions last week after they expired, were valid until Jan. 21.