Today’s news / South Korea’s Yoon arrested after standoff
A procession of cars drove from Yoon Suk-yeol's residence on Wednesday night. Investigators have arrested the president, who is being investigated for insurrection following orders for martial law. Photo: Anthony Wallace/Ritzau Scanpix

South Korea’s Yoon arrested after standoff

South Korea’s suspended president Yoon Suk-yeol was arrested following a brief military state of emergency he introduced in December. Investigators scaled walls and faced a human blockade by ruling party members to execute the arrest at Yoon’s heavily guarded residence, where around 6,500 supporters had gathered. Previously, police efforts for an early January arrest were blocked by military personnel. Yoon agreed to the interrogation to avoid bloodshed and claims the investigation against him is illegal. He is the first sitting South Korean president to be arrested. Following Yoon’s suspension by parliament on December 14, Choi Sang-mok became acting president. The constitutional court will now rule on Yoon’s permanent removal from office.