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Yoon Suk Yeol taken into custody
-Yoon, identified as insurrection leader, is exercising right to remain silent -Yoon is first sitting president taken into custody -Yoon says decided to appear for questioning to prevent ‘bloodshed’ -CIO mulls requesting warrant to extend detention -Massive operation with 1,100 officers ended without physical conflict SEOUL/GWACHEON, Gyeonggi Province -- President Yoon Suk Yeol was detained in a large-scale law enforcement operation at the presidential residence Wednesday, on charges of mastermi
Jan. 15, 2025 -
A look into PSS under Yoon Suk Yeol
South Korea's Presidential Security Service, which had resisted efforts to detain President Yoon Suk Yeol, stepped aside Wednesday morning, opening the Yoon up to arrest and themselves to a new level of scrutiny
Jan. 15, 2025 -
Timeline of events leading to Yoon's arrest
Following is a timeline of events leading to President Yoon Suk Yeol's detention on Wednesday, stemming from his short-lived declaration of martial law on Dec. 3. Dec. 3 South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol declares martial law in a late-night announcement Dec. 4 National Assembly votes to demand lifting of martial law Yoon declares end to martial law Six opposition parties jointly submit parliamentary motion to impeach Yoon Dec. 5 Defense Minister Kim Yong-hyun resigns Dec. 7 Yoon says he will
Jan. 15, 2025 -
200 pages of questions and right to silence: How CIO's questioning of Yoon is unfolding
Investigators have 48 hours to question Yoon face-to-face; extension would require formal arrest warrant The investigators who took President Yoon Suk Yeol into custody Wednesday have over 200 pages of questions to ask him about his Dec. 3 martial law declaration. The current detention warrant grants them 48 hours to address them face-to-face. Yoon, suspended from office since Dec. 14 last year, was arrested at his presidential residence in Hannam-dong, Seoul, at around 10:33 a.m. Wednesday and
Jan. 15, 2025 -
Arrested president claims probe against him is illegal
In a prerecorded video message released shortly after his arrest Wednesday, suspended President Yoon Suk Yeol claimed again that the investigation of him was illegal, and that he was only complying with it to "prevent disgraceful bloodshed." Yoon was taken into custody at the presidential residence by investigators of the Corruption Investigation Office for High-ranking Officials, in a second attempt to execute a court-issued warrant for his arrest this month related to his Dec. 3 botched imposi
Jan. 15, 2025 -
DP floor leader calls Yoon's detention 'first step' to restoring democracy
The floor leader of the main opposition Democratic Party said Wednesday that President Yoon Suk Yeol's detention by investigators marked the "first step" in restoring the country's constitutional order and democracy. Rep. Park Chan-dae made the remarks after investigators detained Yoon earlier in the day over his short-lived imposition of martial law last month. "(It) is the first step to restoring the constitutional order and democracy, and upholding the rule of law," Park said in a meeting of
Jan. 15, 2025 -
What went differently in 2nd attempt to arrest Yoon Suk Yeol?
Yoon becomes 1st South Korean sitting president to be arrested, as presidential bodyguards show nearly no resistance to Yoon’s arrest The joint investigative team handling suspended President Yoon Suk Yeol's arrest succeeded in taking him into custody Wednesday morning, as he became the first president in the country's history to be arrested on charges of leading an insurrection and committing abuse of power with his Dec. 3 botched imposition of martial law. The second attempt to arrest the pres
Jan. 15, 2025 -
Rallies for, against attempt to detain Yoon take place outside presidential residence
Large crowds of people gathered outside the presidential residence Wednesday to rally for or against the second attempt to detain impeached President Yoon Suk Yeol, with a mix of outcry and cheers being heard as investigators made progress in their attempt. Dozens of Yoon's supporters lay themselves on a road near the residence in central Seoul earlier in the day in protest against investigators as they entered the compound in their second attempt to carry out a warrant for his detention. Other
Jan. 15, 2025 -
Acting president vows accountability of all responsible for violent clash during Yoon's arrest
Acting President Choi Sang-mok said Wednesday the government will hold accountable anyone responsible for any physical clash during the execution of a warrant to detain President Yoon Suk Yeol for his botched martial law attempt. Earlier in the morning, officials from the state anti-corruption agency, accompanied by police, presented search and detention warrants against Yoon after arriving outside his residence in central Seoul. This followed a previous attempt earlier this month. Their efforts
Jan. 15, 2025 -
South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol taken into custody over martial law
President Yoon Suk Yeol was taken into custody by a joint probe team at 10:33 a.m. Wednesday, according to police and the Corruption Investigation Office for High-ranking Officials, 12 days after being repelled in its initial attempt to detain him. Yoon arrived at the CIO headquarters of the CIO in Gwacheon, Gyeonggi Province, for questioning over his martial law declaration in December. Yoon, 64, became the first sitting president in South Korean history to be in custody. In the next 48 hours,
Jan. 15, 2025 -
Military unit approves entrance of police, CIO into presidential residence
A military unit guarding the presidential residence on Tuesday approved the entry of police and anti-corruption agency officials into the presidential residence to detain impeached President Yoon Suk Yeol, officials said. Upon request by the Corruption Investigation Office for High-ranking Officials (CIO), the unit under the Capital Defense Command said that it will allow investigators from the CIO, police and the Ministry of Defense to access the presidential residence, according to the CIO. Th
Jan. 14, 2025 -
Ruling party to draw up own Yoon probe bill
People Power Party offers to 'meet in middle'; Opposition-led parliamentary committee to summon president to testify The ruling People Power Party said Tuesday it would come up with its own bill for opening a special counsel investigation into President Yoon Suk Yeol’s Dec. 3 martial law declaration, calling on the main opposition Democratic Party of Korea to “meet in the middle.” Rep. Kweon Seong-dong, the People Power Party's floor leader, said at a press conference that his party plans on pro
Jan. 14, 2025 -
5 key points on 2nd attempt to detain Yoon Suk Yeol
President Yoon Suk Yeol faces the imminent threat of detention as a second attempt to execute a court warrant is expected as early as Wednesday. If the joint investigation team — comprising police, the Defense Ministry and prosecutors from the Corruption Investigation Office for High-ranking Officials — serves the warrant he would become the first sitting president in South Korean history to be taken into custody. The joint team previously summoned Yoon three times for questioning over his role
Jan. 14, 2025 -
Partisan politics at its ugliest: ruling party lawmaker ostracized for defying party line
Rep. Kim Sang-wook of the ruling People Power Party is facing ostracization and criticism by fellow party members for supporting opposition-led moves to suspend and investigate President Yoon Suk Yeol. During a general assembly of ruling party lawmakers on Monday, Rep. Kim spoke in favor of a special counsel-led probe of the now-suspended leader’s Dec. 3 martial law. ”We should propose our own special prosecutor bill even now. The party should not be perceived as endorsing martial law,” he said.
Jan. 14, 2025 -
Defense ministry says troops will not be mobilized to block Yoon's detainment
Military personnel on guard duty at the presidential residence will not be mobilized to obstruct investigators from attempting to detain impeached President Yoon Suk Yeol, the defense ministry said Tuesday. Investigators are expected to make a second attempt to detain Yoon this week over his short-lived martial law imposition, after a failed bid early this month that involved an hourslong standoff between the police and Yoon's security staff at the compound in central Seoul. "(We) clearly state
Jan. 14, 2025