THE CABLE
South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol has been arrested for questioning by the anti-corruption agency.
Yeol was impeached by parliament on December 14 following his botched martial law declaration. His presidential powers and duties have since been suspended pending the ruling from the constitutional court — which has up to 180 days to dismiss Yeol as president or restore his powers.
Previous attempts to arrest Yeol after his impeachment proved abortive.
On Wednesday morning, Yeol was picked up from his residence by investigators after a stand-off that pitted his security details against those of the state.
He was then driven in a motorcade to be taken into custody. It would be the first time a sitting South Korean president has been arrested.
The warrant allows investigators to hold Yeol for up to 48 hours. The Corruption Investigation Office (CIO) would need to apply for another warrant to detain him further.
Yeol’s supporters and opponents clashed at the scene of the arrest, with each group baying for the other’s jugular. Police officers had to cordon off the street to prevent a breakdown of law and order.
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