Operation to arrest South Korea’s president begins

State crisis

Operation to arrest South Korea’s president begins

Yoon Suk Yeol briefly imposed martial law in early December during a budget dispute. He then ignored summonses from prosecutors. Now they are taking action.

Law enforcement authorities in South Korea say they have begun their operation to arrest suspended President Yoon Suk Yeol. This was reported by the South Korean news agency Yonhap, citing the corruption investigation agency. In front of the president’s official residence, numerous Yoon supporters had been protesting against his arrest since New Year’s Day and blocking access.

A court had previously approved a request to arrest the head of state on charges of abuse of power and sedition. Investigators want to question Yoon about the sudden imposition of martial law a month ago, which plunged the country into a state crisis. So far he has ignored three summonses from prosecutors. Yoon’s defense attorneys called the order “illegal,” according to Yonhap.