The arrest of South Korea’s ousted president, Yoon Suk-yeol, has intensified the nation’s political crisis following his controversial martial law declaration.
Martial Law Declaration and Immediate Reversal
In December, Yoon Suk-yeol declared martial law, citing deadlock in the opposition-led parliament over laws and budget approval. Under his orders, special forces stormed the parliament building, seeking to detain opposition leaders and block access. However, lawmakers acted quickly, voting to annul the martial law decree before it could fully take effect.
Yoon’s actions prompted swift backlash. Parliament voted to suspend his presidential duties, leaving him in office but without authority. The Constitutional Court is now tasked with deciding his permanent removal. A decision requires six out of nine judges, though earlier vacancies on the bench have complicated the process.
Arrest After Resistance and Negotiation
For weeks, Yoon evaded arrest, protected by his presidential security detail. An initial attempt to serve an arrest warrant failed due to these protections. However, during a second attempt on Tuesday, authorities used additional equipment and negotiated Yoon’s surrender without confrontation.
Yoon was formally arrested on Wednesday morning, making him the first sitting South Korean president to face detention. Authorities extended certain privileges, such as exempting him from handcuffs and allowing him to use his official convoy. In a video statement, Yoon denied the legitimacy of the charges but said he would cooperate to prevent “unnecessary bloodshed.”
Political Divisions Deepen
Yoon’s arrest has further polarized South Korea. His conservative People Power Party criticized the impeachment as an overreach by the liberal opposition, accusing them of exploiting the crisis to push for new elections. The party argues that Yoon’s martial law declaration did not prevent parliament from functioning, making accusations of illegal action debatable.
Meanwhile, the opposition Democratic Party (DP) celebrated the arrest. DP leader Park Chan-dae described it as “a vital step toward restoring constitutional order and democracy.”
The Constitutional Court has pledged to accelerate its review of Yoon’s case. Authorities must also decide within 48 hours whether to extend his detention, a move experts view as likely. If approved, Yoon will remain in a secure facility in Seoul while the court deliberates.
South Korea faces a moment of reckoning as the legal and political drama surrounding Yoon unfolds. The case highlights deep divisions in the nation’s political system and tests the resilience of its democratic institutions.
