South Korean president Yoon Suk Yeol arrested amid coup claims
The President of South Korea, Yoon Suk Yeol, has been detained by the Corruption Investigation Office for High-ranking Officials (CIO). Yoon refused to testify in relation to the investigation concerning the imposition of martial law.
- Yoon Suk Yeol is exercising his right to remain silent - stated a CIO official after the morning interrogation session, which lasted approximately two and a half hours.
The interrogation of the South Korean president was led by the deputy head of the CIO, Lee Jae-seung, with the detainee's defence lawyers present. The politician was brought to the office after the CIO and police entered his residence in Seoul on Wednesday morning to execute a court order for his arrest.
Yoon was suspended from his duties following the parliament's vote to impeach him on 13th December. He may face charges of orchestrating a coup and abuse of power. Yoon is the first sitting president of South Korea to be arrested while in office, making this situation unprecedented.
On 2nd December, the president declared martial law. He revoked it six hours later, under pressure from the parliament and the public. In Seoul, Koreans took to the streets and began protesting against the head of state's actions in organising a rebellion.
Following the morning interrogation, which is set to continue in the afternoon, Yoon will be transported to a detention facility near the CIO office in the city of Uiwang, close to Seoul. The Yonhap agency reports that the investigation will remain ongoing.
