South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol became the first sitting head of state to be detained by criminal investigators, as a standoff between him and the opposition-dominated National Assembly finally came to an end. The move was sparked by Yoon’s imposition of martial law last month, which threatened decades of hard-won democracy in South Korea.
Yoon declared martial law on December 3, calling his liberal enemies “anti-state forces” and vowing to enforce strict measures, including banning political activities and putting news media under military control. However, the National Assembly killed his decree before he could enforce such moves, and the opposition-dominated body then impeached him.
Despite this, Yoon refused to surrender to investigators, who had served a court warrant for his detention on January 3. He was eventually taken into custody in a motorcade through busy morning traffic, where he faced a marathon interrogation with prosecutors who have indicted several military generals on charges of helping him commit insurrection.
The investigation and detention have exposed deep fractures in South Korea’s politics, as conservative activists have rallied to support Yoon and vilified his opponents. Conspiracy theories have spread rapidly on social media, fueling further division.
A separate court is currently deliberating whether the Assembly’s vote to impeach Yoon was legitimate, with a potential election looming within two months if he is removed from office. The outcome will likely add to the country’s deepening political tribalism and polarized politics.
Source: https://www.nytimes.com/2025/01/14/world/asia/south-korea-yoon-detain.html