South Korea’s anti-corruption authorities have arrested President Yun Suk-yeol, marking the first time in the nation's history that a sitting president has been detained.
The arrest, reported by the BBC, occurred at approximately 10:30am local time on 15 January, when a motorcade departed from the president’s residence, believed to be transporting him to custody.
Earlier attempts to detain President Yun had failed, but this second effort was confirmed as successful by the authorities.
In a brief video statement, President Yun announced his decision to voluntarily appear before the Corruption Investigation Office (CIO), which is leading the case against him.
“To avoid unnecessary bloodshed, I have agreed to present myself at the CIO, despite this being an unlawful investigation,” he stated in a three-minute address.
President Yun expressed his concerns about the nation's deteriorating law and order, emphasising that no arrest warrant had been issued by investigative agencies or the judiciary.
“While we face dark times, I remain optimistic about the country’s future,” he added, urging citizens to stay resilient and sending his best wishes to them.
This unprecedented development underscores the growing scrutiny of South Korea’s political landscape as the nation grapples with corruption at the highest levels.
