South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol was arrested and questioned by authorities on Wednesday in relation to a criminal insurrection probe, marking the first time a sitting president has been arrested in South Korea, Reuters reports.
Yoon’s arrest follows his impeachment after a controversial declaration of martial law on December 3. Yoon, who had been barricaded in his residence to avoid arrest, turned himself in after over 3,000 police officers attempted to arrest him.
Yoon claimed his martial law decree was necessary due to alleged election fraud. However, lawmakers accused him of undermining democracy by deploying troops and alleging election fraud without evidence. The Constitutional Court is also deliberating whether to uphold Yoon’s impeachment.
