South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol was arrested as authorities investigated his short-lived martial legislation decree

A vehicle carrying indicted South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol (center) leaves the complex building housing the Senior Officials Corruption Investigation Office (CIO) in Gwacheon on January 15, 2025. Indicted South Korean leader Yoon Suk Yeol was arrested on Jan. 15 over his failed attempt at martial law, ending a weeks-long conflict with authorities and becoming the first sitting president to be jailed in the country's history.

Jung Yeon-je | Afp | Getty Images

South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol was arrested Wednesday by the country's corruption investigation unit for senior officials, a first for a sitting South Korean leader.

This was the second attempt to arrest the accused president, following a failed attempt on January 3 when agents from South Korea's presidential security service blocked investigators from entering Yoon's residence.

Unlike the first attempt, “this time no people or security forces actively prevented the execution and there were no significant physical clashes,” the CIO said.

About 3,000 police were involved in the second attempt to secure access to Yoon's compound, Yonhap news agency said.

South Korean media also reported that Yoon said in a pre-recorded video that “the country's law has collapsed” and called the CIO's investigation “illegal.” According to a Google translation of the reports in Korean, Yoon said he would appear before the CIO to “prevent unpleasant bloodshed.”

Police officers and investigators from the Senior Officials Corruption Investigation Office pass the entrance to the official residence of indicted South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol as authorities try to execute an arrest warrant, in Seoul, South Korea, January 15. 2025.

Kim Hong-ji | Reuters

South Korean stocks reacted mutedly to the news, as did the blue chip Kospi rose 0.21% and the small-cap Kosdaq lost 0.44%.

The won weakened slightly against the US dollar and was last quoted at 1,459.75. The yield on South Korea's 10-year benchmark bonds also rose.

Stock chart iconStock chart icon

South Korea's indicted President Yoon Suk Yeol arrives at the Senior Officials Corruption Investigation Office (CIO) in Gwacheon, South Korea, on January 15, 2025.

Korea Pool | Via Reuters

Yoon may face insurrection charges following his short-lived declaration of martial law on December 3, a charge that is not subject to presidential immunity and carries the maximum death penalty.

Yoon made a surprise late-night broadcast last month and declared martial law, citing the need to protect the country from “North Korean communist forces” and “anti-state forces.” This was the first time martial law was declared in South Korea in over 40 years.

Lawmakers then managed to overcome police barricades and reject the statement in the country's parliament before filing impeachment proceedings against Yoon a few days later. Yoon was charged and suspended from office on December 14.

The South Korean Constitutional Court opened impeachment proceedings against Yoon on January 14th, but postponed it to January 16th because Yoon did not appear.