SEOUL -- A South Korean court approved the release of arrested President Yoon Suk-yeol on Friday, opening a possibility for the impeached leader to be tried without detention.

The Seoul Central District Court accepted Yoon's request to cancel his arrest, which was made by Yoon's legal team on Feb 4.

Without the prosecution's appeal, Yoon will be released, but the appeal will suspend his release until another judge of the court decides on it.

The court said the arrest cancellation is desirable to ensure a procedural clarity and dispel doubts about the investigation process, stressing that if Yoon's criminal trial proceedings are carried out with controversies left unresolved, it could lead to an annulment at a higher court or a retrial cause.

During a relevant hearing on Feb 20, Yoon's side argued that the impeached leader was indicted under detention after the expiration of the arrest warrant period, while the prosecution claimed that it was a legitimate indictment.

The court noted that the defendant Yoon was prosecuted after the expiration of his arrest period as the arrest period should be calculated based on an actual time, not by date.

Yoon was apprehended in the presidential residence on Jan 15 and was indicted under detention on Jan 26 as a suspected ringleader of insurrection, becoming the country's first sitting president to be arrested and prosecuted.

Prosecutors brought the accusation against Yoon at 6:52 pm local time on Jan 26, but the court said Yoon's arrest period expired at 9:07 am local time on the same day.

The court ruled that the Corruption Investigation Office for High-ranking Officials (CIO) has no right to investigate an insurrection case while the CIO and the prosecution divided and used the arrest period without a legal basis.

After an initial investigation, the CIO referred Yoon's insurrection case to the prosecution in January.

Yoon declared an emergency martial law on the night of Dec 3 last year, but it was revoked by the opposition-led National Assembly hours later.

A motion to impeach Yoon was passed in the National Assembly on Dec 14, and since then the constitutional court held 11 hearings on Yoon's impeachment with its final verdict widely expected to be delivered next week.

SEOUL — South Korean President Yoon Suk-yeol faced his final impeachment hearing on Tuesday before judges decide whether to remove him from office over his martial law declaration.

Yoon's brief suspension of civilian rule plunged his country into political turmoil, and he was removed from office by parliament in December.

After weeks of impeachment hearings at the Constitutional Court in Seoul, Tuesday's proceedings began at 2 pm.

In its opening remarks, Yoon's defense team cited a 2024 US Supreme Court ruling, Donald Trump versus the United States, arguing that Yoon cannot be punished for "exercising his core constitutional powers".

That ruling "should be considered in the context of impeachment proceedings", Yoon's lawyer Lee Dongchan said.

In response, opposition lawyer Lee Gum-gyu spoke about his son, an active duty soldier, who, he said, would have been forced to participate in Yoon's martial law.

"As a citizen and a father, I feel a sense of rage and betrayal toward Yoon, who tried to turn my son into a martial law soldier," he told the court.

In his final statement, Yoon said the country was facing an "existential crisis" when he declared martial law.

"It was an urgent plea for the people, as the sovereign power of this country, to recognize the situation and take action to overcome it together," he told the court.

Tuesday's session is Yoon's last before the eight judges go behind closed doors to decide his fate. A verdict is expected in mid-March.

The 64-year-old is being held at the Seoul Detention Center after he was arrested over a separate criminal case, charging him with leading an insurrection, for which he could be sentenced to life in prison or even face the death penalty.

The former prosecutor is the first sitting president to face a criminal trial, which began last week.

AGENCIES VIA XINHUA

SEOUL — Ousted South Korean President Yoon Suk-yeol became the country's first sitting head of state to stand trial in a criminal case as hearings opened on Thursday regarding his bid to impose martial law.

Traveling around Seoul in a prison transport vehicle, Yoon appeared in two different courts on Thursday, contesting his arrest on rebellion charges in one and fighting an effort to remove him from office in the other. Both cases — one on criminal charges, one on impeachment — are related to his imposition of martial law.

Last month, prosecutors indicted Yoon after accusing him of leading an insurrection with his short-lived imposition of martial law on Dec 3.

Security was heightened at the Seoul Central District Court as the motorcade transporting Yoon arrived for a preliminary hearing that involved discussions of witnesses, proposed evidence and other preparations for his criminal trial.

Prosecutors called for swift proceedings considering the gravity of the case, but Yoon's lawyers said they needed more time to review records.

Yoon had "no intention to paralyze the country", one of his lawyers told the court, adding that his martial law declaration aimed to tell the public of the "legislative dictatorship of the huge opposition party".

If convicted, Yoon could face years in prison for his martial law decree, which shocked the country and sought to ban political and parliamentary activity and control the media.

The move unleashed political upheaval in Asia's fourth-largest economy, with the prime minister also impeached and suspended from power, while top military officials were indicted for their role in the matter.

The court also heard a bid by Yoon's lawyers to cancel his detention, saying the matter had been investigated in an illegal manner, and that there was no risk of Yoon trying to destroy evidence.

It was unclear when the court would rule on the detention, but a judge set the next hearing of the criminal case for March 24.

After the criminal case, Yoon also attended on Thursday afternoon a parallel impeachment trial by the Constitutional Court that has entered its final phase.

The court's acting chief justice Moon Hyung-bae said on Thursday that the next hearing will be held on Tuesday, during which Yoon and the parliament, which is presenting the case against him, will give final remarks.

On Thursday, witnesses testifying to the court included Prime Minister Han Duck-soo, who has also been impeached and awaits the court's decision on his fate.

The Constitutional Court is reviewing parliament's impeachment of Yoon on Dec 14 and will decide whether to remove him from office permanently or reinstate him.

Analysts have said a March ruling is likely.

If Yoon is removed, a new presidential election must be held within 60 days.

Agencies Via Xinhua

South Korean President Yoon Suk-yeol skipped the ninth hearing of his impeachment trial on Tuesday as his legal team clashed with lawyers representing the National Assembly over evidence examination.

Yoon arrived at the Constitutional Court but left for the Seoul Detention Center before proceedings began, Yonhap News Agency reported.

"After consulting with the legal representatives, it was confirmed that today's hearing involves summarizing the current situation while allowing the legal teams of both sides to present their arguments," Yoon's legal team stated. "As such, President Yoon returned to the detention center."

With no need for Yoon to directly present his opinions, he entrusted the matter to his legal team to ensure the smooth progress of the trial, his lawyers said.

Yoon faces impeachment over his short-lived martial law declaration on Dec 3 and has attended hearings since the third session on Jan 21.

During Tuesday's hearing, the National Assembly's legal team-serving as a prosecutor — and Yoon's side were each given two hours to summarize their arguments and present key evidence.

The National Assembly presented excerpts from the prosecution's interrogation of Cho Ji-ho, commissioner general of the National Police Agency.

According to Cho's testimony, Yoon had instructed him to detain all National Assembly members entering the building after he declared the martial law.

In addition, the National Assembly disclosed other investigation records related to the martial law decree, and testimonies from Cabinet members who attended the meeting convened by Yoon before the declaration.

In response, Yoon's legal representative Cho Dae-hyun said the use of testimony from individuals who had not appeared in court as witnesses is against the law, and their credibility cannot be cross-examined by Yoon's side.

"I request that they be excluded from the evidence examination," Cho Dae-hyun said.

Yoon's legal team also denied that he ordered the arrest of lawmakers and defended the necessity of martial law.

On Monday, Kwon Young-se, interim leader of the ruling People Power Party, criticized the Constitutional Court, accusing it of "rushing to make a judgment without careful deliberation".

Kwon said that while investigators summoned 520 people for questioning, the court said it could determine the whole story of martial law based on testimony from just 14 witnesses, Yonhap reported.

'Clearly a mistake'

Kwon called for a fair trial for Yoon but acknowledged that the martial law declaration was "clearly a mistake".

The final scheduled hearing is set for Thursday. Despite Yoon's request for a postponement because of a preparatory hearing for his criminal trial on charges of insurrection on the same day, the court has decided that the date will remain unchanged.

Impeached Prime Minister Han Duck-soo, National Police Agency's Cho Ji-ho, and former first deputy director of the National Intelligence Service Hong Jangwon are set to testify in the 10th hearing.

In an impeachment trial, once all witnesses have testified and all evidence has been examined, the court hears final statements from both sides before concluding proceedings.

Unless an additional hearing is scheduled, the Constitutional Court is widely expected to issue its verdict next month on whether to uphold the impeachment.

A survey published by Gallup Korea found that 57 percent of South Koreans supported Yoon's impeachment, while 38 percent opposed it.

Supporters of impeachment cited reasons such as the martial law declaration, charges of insurrection, Yoon's inability to manage state affairs, and the chaos and instability in the country.

Opponents, on the other hand, pointed to the opposition party's obstruction and impeachment attempts, as well as the legitimacy of martial law as part of the president's inherent authority.

kelly@chinadailyapac.com

Seoul's Constitutional Court announced an additional hearing in the impeachment trial of South Korean President Yoon Suk-yeol on Tuesday, after the last designated hearing concluded on Thursday.

"We will conduct an evidence review for the records that were admitted as evidence but have not yet been examined," said Moon Hyung-bae, acting chief justice of the Constitutional Court, according to Yonhap News Agency.

Moon said the National Assembly and Yoon will both be given two hours to summarize arguments and present key points of their documentary evidence.

According to the original schedule, Thursday was the eighth and final designated hearing date for Yoon's impeachment trial.

During Thursday's hearing, Yoon's legal team accused the Constitutional Court of unlawful proceedings, warning of serious action if the impeachment trial continued in the current manner. They did not elaborate on what that action might be.

Yoon's lawyer Yun Gap-geun said the court violated the law and is conducting an unlawful and unfair trial.

"What is more important than a quick decision is a prompt, fair, accurate and politically neutral trial that the public can trust, as this is what gives meaning to the existence of the Constitutional Court," said Yun.

The team requested once again to call impeached Prime Minister Han Duck-soo as a witness.

Yoon was impeached by the National Assembly on Dec 14 over his short-lived martial law decree earlier in the month. He has since been suspended from office, and was arrested on Jan 15.

Witnesses questioned in the eighth hearing were the Chief of the National Intelligence Service Cho Tae-yong, the former chief of the Seoul Metropolitan Police Agency Kim Bong-sik, and the Head of the First Security Command of the Capital Defense Command Cho Sung-hyun.

The National Assembly's legal team — which is serving as a prosecutor in the impeachment trial — said the acts by Yoon's side undermined the court's credibility.

Song Doo-hwan, an attorney from the National Assembly's impeachment committee, said the facts regarding the trial have been clarified to a considerable degree, and he believes it is the right time for a constitutional assessment of whether the martial law declaration and the actions that followed were unconstitutional and illegal.

The timing of the verdict depends on whether the court accepts additional witnesses requested by Yoon's side and schedules more hearings, said Cho Hee-kyoung, a law professor at Hongik University in Seoul.

If no further hearings are held, a verdict could come as early as the end of this month or early March, she told China Daily.

The Constitutional Court said it would decide on Friday whether to admit additional witnesses.

"If there are more hearing dates, then the verdict will be pushed back accordingly," Cho said.

In the previous presidential impeachment trials in South Korea, the ruling was delivered in 91 days for former president Park Geun-hye and 63 days for former president Roh Moo-hyun. Those decisions were announced about two weeks after oral arguments ended.

Insurrection charges

Local media also reported that the first preliminary hearing for Yoon's criminal case on charges of leading an insurrection is scheduled for Thursday.

A simultaneous court hearing will take place to review Yoon's request to cancel his detention.

Currently, Yoon is only indicted on charges of insurrection as he is a sitting president, but he will lose presidential immunity and will likely be charged with additional crimes once the impeachment motion is upheld by the court, said Cho.

"Yoon will be in his element in the criminal trial and will use every tactic he can to challenge the indictment and the court and the judges and to draw out the proceedings," said Cho, who expects a prolonged criminal trial.

A survey released on Thursday showed that 58 percent of South Korean residents polled agreed the Constitutional Court should uphold Yoon's impeachment, while 38 percent said it should be dismissed.

The number of respondents who said Yoon should be removed from office through impeachment increased by 3 percentage points from the previous week, while 54 percent of respondents said they trusted the process of the impeachment trial, up 2 percentage points from last week.

The latest National Barometer Survey was jointly conducted by four research institutes from Monday to Wednesday, polling 1,001 South Korean residents aged over 18.

The suspended president's supporters have gathered outside the court throughout his weekslong trial.

Yoon's legal team announced it would officially launch a "citizen defense team" of supporters seeking to "save" him and have him reinstated. According to the lawyers, 15,000 people have applied to join the team.

Agencies contributed to this story.

kelly@chinadailyapac.com

SEOUL -- South Korea's prosecution sought the extension of detention of the arrested President Yoon Suk-yeol until Feb 6 to carry out further investigation, multiple media outlets said Friday.

The prosecution's special investigative headquarters made the request to the Seoul Central District Court on Thursday, which was predicted to decide on the extension as early as Friday.

A warrant to keep Yoon in custody for up to 20 days, including the arrest period, was issued by another Seoul court on Jan 19.

The prosecution was widely expected to indict Yoon under detention for insurrection and other charges.

Yoon was apprehended in presidential office on Jan 15, becoming the country's first sitting president to be arrested.

The motion to impeach Yoon was passed through the National Assembly on Dec 14 last year and was delivered to the constitutional court to deliberate it for up to 180 days, during which Yoon's presidential power is suspended.

Yoon, who was named by investigative agencies as a suspected ringleader on insurrection charge, declared a martial law on the night of Dec 3, but it was revoked by the National Assembly hours later.

South Korean President Yoon Suk-yeol directly questioned former defense minister Kim Yong-hyun on Thursday in the fourth hearing of his impeachment trial, with Kim refuting allegations related to Yoon's Dec 3 martial law declaration.

Attired in a navy suit and red tie, the same outfit he wore when he first attended the impeachment trial at the Constitutional Court two days ago, Yoon came in person for the second time — which also included the cross-examination of the first witness, Yonhap News Agency reported.

Questioned for two and a half hours, Kim said he was the one who wrote a note to then finance minister Choi Sang-mok — now acting president — to ask him to draft a budget for an emergency legislative body.

As a key piece of evidence related to the insurrection charges, Yoon is accused of handing the note to Choi when martial law was declared. The imposition of martial law, which plunged the country into political chaos, lasted just six hours before lawmakers voted it down.

Regarding the deployment of troops to the National Assembly building, Kim said Yoon only ordered "a small number" of soldiers, against his advice to mobilize up to 60,000.

He also said Yoon's purpose in mobilizing the troops was not to stop lawmakers from voting down the decree but to "watch closely for people approaching to disrupt the maintenance of order and allow selective entry", Kim was quoted as saying by Yonhap.

Kim was also questioned by the legal representatives from the National Assembly, who are serving as the prosecutors in the trial.

Kim originally refused to be questioned by the National Assembly lawyers but later reversed his stance after being warned by the court that refusing to testify could affect the judgment of his credibility.

He also said he drafted the martial law proclamation, which included a ban on all political activities, based on past martial law documents, and that Yoon did not read it carefully.

Kim was chosen by Yoon's lawyers as a witness for the trial. He was arrested on Dec 8 over his alleged role in the martial law decree and attempted suicide on Dec 10.

During the hearing, Yoon said the martial law declaration was not a failure because he had always planned to end it quickly.

"It ended a little earlier than expected," Yoon said, adding that he immediately ordered the withdrawal of troops after the National Assembly voted against it.

He said the mobilization of troops was legal.

The Constitutional Court received the case on Dec 14 after the National Assembly passed the impeachment motion against Yoon. The court has up to 180 days to decide whether to remove Yoon from office or to reinstate him.

'Changing political wind'

Kim "made it clear that he is basically taking the side of Yoon", said Joung W Hwang, a United States-licensed lawyer in Seoul. "But I think overall it will have a very low impact on how the court will review the issue."

Yoon's lawyers "are not making that many credible arguments in court", Hwang told China Daily. "It almost seems like they are directly addressing Yoon's supporters "and are "more interested in changing the political wind in South Korea".

Hwang said he expects Yoon's legal team to keep delaying things as much as possible in the hope that the political fortune will change. This includes how he will deal with the investigation to be carried out by government prosecutors.

Before Thursday's hearing, the Corruption Investigation Office probing the martial law declaration said it had transferred Yoon's case to prosecutors for indictment over charges of leading an insurrection and abuse of power.

The CIO does not have indictment powers against a president.

The prosecution said it would immediately start an investigation. It was expected to indict Yoon around Feb 5.

kelly@chinadailyapac.com

SEOUL -- South Korea's anti-corruption agency said on Thursday it has decided to refer the arrested President Yoon Suk-yeol's "insurrection case" to the prosecution, according to multiple media outlets.

The Corruption Investigation Office for High-ranking Officials (CIO) decided to transfer the case to the Seoul Central District Prosecutors' Office, demanding the indictment of Yoon as the CIO has no right to indict the president.

Yoon was apprehended in the presidential office on Jan 15, becoming the country's first sitting president to be arrested. A warrant to extend the detention of Yoon for up to 20 days, including the arrest period, was granted by a Seoul court on Jan 19.

The CIO and the prosecution agreed to jointly investigate Yoon's "insurrection" charge by questioning the impeached president for 10 respective days.

The prosecution was widely expected to indict Yoon for the "insurrection" and other charges around Feb 5.

Yoon rejected the CIO's repeated call to appear for questioning.

The impeachment motion against Yoon was passed in the National Assembly on Dec 14 last year and was delivered to the constitutional court to deliberate it for up to 180 days, during which Yoon's presidential power is suspended.

Yoon, who was named by investigative agencies as a suspected ringleader on "insurrection" charge, declared a martial law on the night of Dec 3, but it was revoked by the National Assembly hours later.

SEOUL — South Korea's impeached President Yoon Suk-yeol appeared at the Constitutional Court for the first time on Tuesday, and vowed to cooperate with the judges who will decide whether to remove him from office.

The country was plunged into political chaos by Yoon's Dec 3 martial law declaration, which lasted just six hours before lawmakers voted it down.

They later impeached him, stripping him of his duties. He also became the first sitting South Korean president to be arrested in a criminal probe on insurrection grounds.

Thousands of protesters — both for and against Yoon — flocked to the Constitutional Court, which is holding hearings to decide whether to uphold his impeachment.

"I will respond to any questions or provide further remarks if necessary," Yoon told the judge.

Yoon was asked during the hearing whether he had instructed top military commanders to "drag out "lawmakers from parliament to prevent them from voting down his martial law decree.

"No," he told the judge.

Court spokesperson Cheon Jaehyun told reporters that Yoon's legal team has requested to call "at least 24 individuals" as witnesses, including election-related officials.

Yoon, who remains head of state, is being held in a detention center pending a criminal probe on charges of insurrection.

Shortly after the hearing, the Corruption Investigation Office probing the martial law declaration said it had sent six investigators and a prosecutor to the detention center to question Yoon, who has been refusing to submit to their questioning.

However, the van escorting Yoon was seen traveling to a hospital in Seoul, instead of the detention center.

The Justice Ministry said Yoon went for "a medical treatment", based on results of a medical exam the previous day.

If the court rules against Yoon, he will lose the presidency and elections will be called within 60 days.

The prosecution lawyers, who were selected by the parliament, slammed the comments made by Yoon and his lawyers as "largely contradictory, irrational and unclear, making them entirely incomprehensible".

"If they continue to evade responsibility as they did today, it will only work against them in the impeachment trial and cause even greater disappointment among the public," they added.

Yoon stayed away from the first two hearings last week, but the trial, which could last months, will continue even if he is absent.

Yoon has also been refusing to submit to separate questioning by the Corruption Investigation Office, the body in charge of the criminal probe into his martial law declaration.

It said it had attempted to compel him to attend but because of the "suspect's continued refusal to cooperate", they abandoned the efforts.

On Saturday, Yoon attended a hearing at the Seoul Western District Court on whether to extend his detention. When it was extended, hundreds of pro-Yoon protesters attacked the court building and scuffled with police officers. Dozens were arrested.

'Riling public opinion'

The impeached president's decision to start showing up at the Constitutional Court hearing is more about inflaming his die-hard supporters than helping the judicial process along, legal expert Kim Nam-ju said.

"Whether it's the legal representative speaking or Yoon himself speaking, it's nearly the same — it's more about riling public opinion," Kim told AFP.

But whatever Yoon's motives, "from the perspective of the Constitutional Court judges, hearing directly from the defendant is far more significant", he said.

Kim added that Yoon's refusal to engage in the criminal investigation into his martial law declaration will not work in his favor overall, even if he continues showing up at the Constitutional Court.

"Refusing to comply with the warrant execution and declining to testify will gradually be considered as factors unfavorable to his case in the impeachment trial," said Kim.

"It shows they are not adhering to the legal framework."

Yoon has claimed the criminal probe is illegal and resisted arrest for weeks, vowing to "fight to the end".

Agencies Via Xinhua

SEOUL -- The South Korean Corruption Investigation Office for High-ranking Officials (CIO) said Monday it is considering the possibility of forcibly summoning and questioning detained President Yoon Suk-yeol, following his continuous refusal to comply with detention investigations on two occasions.

The CIO made the statement during a press conference Monday, saying that measures such as conducting the investigation directly at the detention center are not ruled out, according to local media.

The CIO had summoned Yoon to appear for questioning at 10:00 a.m. on Monday. However, Yoon's legal team said that it would be difficult for him to comply with the summons. It was the second time Yoon had refused the CIO's request for questioning since his formal detention on Sunday.

If Yoon continues to refuse the investigation, the CIO might consider measures such as forcibly removing him from the detention center for questioning or conducting the interrogation on-site at the detention center, reported Yonhap News Agency.

SEOUL — Hundreds of supporters of South Korea's arrested President Yoon Suk-yeol stormed a court building on Sunday after his detention was extended, smashing windows and breaking inside, an attack the country's acting leader called "unimaginable".

Yoon on Wednesday became the first sitting South Korean president to be arrested as he faces allegations of insurrection related to his short-lived Dec 3 declaration of martial law that has plunged the country into political turmoil.

Shortly after the Seoul Western District Court announced the extension of Yoon's detention around 3 am on Sunday, his supporters swarmed the building, overwhelming the riot police trying to keep them at bay.

Protesters blasted fire extinguishers at lines of police guarding the front entrance, then flooded inside, destroying office equipment, fittings and furniture, footage showed.

Police restored order a few hours later, saying they had arrested 46 protesters and vowing to track down the others involved.

"The government expresses strong regret over the illegal violence ... which is unimaginable in a democratic society," acting President Choi Sang-mok said in a statement, adding he ordered the police to sternly investigate the incident.

Nine police officers were injured in the chaos, Yonhap reported.

With Yoon refusing to be questioned, investigators facing a deadline on detaining the president asked the court on Friday to extend his custody.

After a five-hour hearing on Saturday, a judge granted a new warrant extending Yoon's detention for up to 20 days, because of "concern that the suspect may destroy evidence".

On Sunday, Yoon's People Power Party called the court's decision to extend his detention a "great pity".

The main opposition Democratic Party said the decision was a "cornerstone" for rebuilding order.

Agencies via Xinhua

SEOUL — South Korea's President Yoon Suk-yeol refused to appear for fresh questioning by investigators on Thursday, a day after his arrest over a failed martial law declaration.

The Constitutional Court also opened its second hearing in a trial that will decide whether to uphold Yoon's impeachment, following the dawn raid that made him the country's first-ever sitting president to be detained.

The former star prosecutor, who faces charges of insurrection, was questioned for hours on Wednesday but exercised his right to remain silent before being moved to a detention center.

Investigators from the Corruption Investigation Office, or CIO, resumed Yoon's questioning on Thursday afternoon, but he did not attend.

"President Yoon Suk-yeol's representatives informed the CIO through his legal counsel around 1:50 pm that there is 'no change in his position', indicating his intent not to appear," the CIO said in a statement before the questioning.

Yoon's lawyer confirmed to AFP the leader would not attend, without specifying the reason, but told the Yonhap news agency it was for health reasons.

"President Yoon is not well and fully explained his position yesterday, so there is nothing more to be interrogated about," Yoon Kab-keun, the lawyer, told Yonhap, an apparent reference to his decision not to answer questions on Wednesday.

Wednesday's arrest saw a hundreds-strong force of police and investigators bypass bus barricades, cut barbed wire and scale ladders to get inside the compound where Yoon was surrounded by hundreds of guards.

Yoon said he complied with investigators to avoid "bloodshed" but did not accept the legality of the investigation.

Meanwhile, officials were trying to secure a new warrant that could hold him for longer than 48 hours.

If investigators successfully obtain that warrant, they are expected to be given a 20-day extension to the leader's detention to allow time to formalize an indictment against him.

South Korea's opposition Democratic Party celebrated Yoon's detention, while the parliament speaker said it was time to stabilize the country after weeks of turmoil.

However, Yoon's lawyers have filed for a review of the warrant used to arrest him.

Experts say Yoon's legal team appears to be trying to drag out the arrest process to his benefit.

Opinion polls show a majority of South Koreans support impeaching Yoon, but the attempts to arrest him appear to have rallied his hardcore supporters.

Agencies Via Xinhua

South Korean President Yoon Suk-yeol was arrested at the presidential residence on Wednesday, becoming the country's first sitting president to be kept in custody.

South Korean investigators announced early on Wednesday that they had arrested the impeached president during their second attempt to execute the arrest warrant.

Yoon's arrest is a result of his declaration on Dec 3 of martial law, which the National Assembly overturned just hours later. On Dec 14, the National Assembly voted to impeach Yoon, and a trial is underway in the nation's Constitutional Court. Yoon's presidential powers have been suspended.

In a pre-recorded message, Yoon said he submitted himself for questioning to avoid any bloodshed, though he said the investigation and arrest were illegal. He deplored the execution of the arrest warrant, which he described as being carried out by force.

Da Zhigang, a researcher at the Heilongjiang Provincial Academy of Social Sciences' Institute of Northeast Asian Studies, said the issue of Yoon's arrest has sparked a significant societal divide in South Korea, as seen in the recent surge in demonstrations by Yoon's supporters as well as his detractors, highlighting the intensifying political strife between the ruling and opposition parties.

Da said the president's statement showed that Yoon lacked confidence "in the presidential guards' ability to withstand a second arrest attempt led by the Corruption Investigation Office for High-ranking Officials. Given this, Yoon aims to enhance his image and public support by voluntarily cooperating with the arrest to avoid conflict".

Although polls have indicated that most South Koreans disapproved of Yoon's martial law declaration and supported his impeachment, the prolonged political standoff has energized his supporters, leading to a resurgence of support for his People Power Party, the country's ruling party, in recent weeks.

According to the latest Realmeter poll results released on Monday, support for the PPP had reached 40.8 percent, while the main opposition Democratic Party's support was at 42.2 percent. The difference falls within the margin of error and represents a significant narrowing from the previous week's 10.8 percentage point gap.

The Corruption Investigation Office for High-ranking Officials said on Wednesday that during the investigation, Yoon consistently refused to make any statements and declined to allow the questioning process to be recorded or videotaped.

Zhan Debin, director of the Center for Korean Peninsula Studies at Shanghai University of International Business and Economics, said that Yoon's arrest is of strong symbolic significance and is likely to expedite judicial proceedings.

Kwon Ki-sik, a former presidential secretary for monitoring of state affairs, said the arrest is likely to expedite the Constitutional Court's review of Yoon's impeachment case, and a verdict could be reached as early as mid-March.

Yoon's legal team issued a statement on Wednesday saying that the CIO does not have the authority to investigate the president, and the arrest warrant was illegal. The team vowed to hold the CIO and the police legally accountable for what it called the unlawful execution of the arrest warrant.

Da, the researcher, said that Yoon's case will likely lead to a prolonged struggle. "The CIO will try to speed up the investigation in collaboration with the Defense Ministry and the police. The ruling party will use favorable laws to defend and countersue.

"What's clear is that this political turmoil harms South Korea's national image and economy. South Korea's national instability may also increase regional uncertainty," Da added.

In late December, the exchange rate of the South Korean won at one point plummeted to 1,487 against the US dollar, the lowest in more than 15 years.

When asked about Yoon's arrest at a regular news conference on Wednesday, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Guo Jiakun said he would not comment on South Korea's domestic affairs.

"China and the Republic of Korea are important neighbors and cooperation partners. China stands ready to work with the ROK for the sound and steady growth of bilateral relations," Guo said.

Agencies contributed to this story.

SEOUL -- South Korea's Corruption Investigation Office for High-ranking Officials (CIO) said Wednesday that during the investigation conducted from 11:00 am to 1:30 pm local time, the impeached President Yoon Suk-yeol consistently refused to make any statements and declined to allow the questioning process to be recorded or videotaped.

Local media quoted the CIO as saying that it is currently negotiating with the presidential security service on whether to transfer Yoon to the Seoul Detention Center for custody. Additionally, it is considering applying for a detention warrant from the Seoul Western District Court, which issued the arrest warrant against Yoon.

If approved, the detention period could be extended to a maximum of 20 days. The CIO plans to transfer Yoon to the prosecution after 10 days of detention.

In response, Yoon's legal team issued a statement emphasizing that the CIO does not have the authority to investigate the president and the arrest warrant is "illegal".

The team vowed to hold the CIO and the police legally accountable for the unlawful execution of the arrest warrant, according to the statement.

SEOUL -- South Korean President Yoon Suk-yeol was arrested in presidential residence Wednesday, becoming the country's first sitting president to be kept in custody over his short-lived martial law imposition.

A joint investigation unit, composed of the Corruption Investigation Office for High-ranking Officials (CIO), the National Office of Investigation (NOI) and the defense ministry's investigative headquarters, said in a short notice that Yoon was arrested at 10:33 am local time (0133 GMT).

TV footage showed that a black vehicle carrying Yoon arrived at the CIO office in Gwacheon, just south of Seoul, before being detained at the Seoul Detention Center in Uiwang, just 5 km away from the office.

The CIO will be required to decide within 48 hours whether to seek a separate warrant to detain Yoon for up to 20 days for further questioning or release him.

Yoon became the first incumbent president to be arrested in the country's modern history.

Yoon said in a pre-recorded message that he deplored proceeding with the arrest warrant, which he claimed to be illegal and executed by force.

He said that accepting what he claimed to be an illegal procedure was aimed at preventing any possible bloodshed.

Investigators from the CIO and the National Office of Investigation (NOI) broke through cordons of the presidential security service without interruption after being blocked for over two hours by Yoon's supporters, his counsels and lawmakers of the ruling People Power Party in front of the main gate of the residence.

It came after the botched attempt to apprehend Yoon on Jan. 3 when the presidential security service deterred the execution of the arrest warrant.

A Seoul court granted the extension of the warrant to arrest Yoon on Jan. 7 by issuing the second warrant.

The embattled president defied the CIO's calls three times last month to voluntarily appear for questioning, leading to the arrest warrant issuance.

Yoon said in a televised address last month that he will not avoid his legal and political responsibility for the martial law imposition.

Yoon, who was named by investigative agencies as a suspected ringleader on an insurrection charge, declared a martial law on the night of Dec. 3 last year but it was revoked by the National Assembly hours later.

An impeachment motion against Yoon was passed by the National Assembly on Dec 14 and delivered to the constitutional court to deliberate it for up to 180 days, during which Yoon's presidential power is suspended.

The court held the first formal hearing for Yoon's impeachment trial on Tuesday, rejecting Yoon's request to exclude a newly appointed justice, recommended by the main opposition Democratic Party, from hearings and the trial.

The first hearing continued just for about four minutes as Yoon failed to appear in the court.

Newly appointed justices filled two of three vacancies in the nine-member bench and assumed their duties earlier this month, raising a possibility for Yoon's impeachment being upheld.

To oust Yoon from office, at least six justices of the constitutional court are required to uphold the impeachment.

Following the first hearing, the court planned to hold next hearings on Jan 16, 21, 23 and Feb 4.

SEOUL -- South Korean investigators on Wednesday entered the presidential residence in an attempt to arrest impeached President Yoon Suk-yeol, TV footage showed.

Police officers and investigators from the Corruption Investigation Office for High-ranking Officials (CIO) and the National Office of Investigation (NOI) broke through the second cordon of buses after getting through the first cordon using ladders.

The investigators confronted Yoon's supporters, lawmakers of the ruling conservative People Power Party and Yoon's defense counsels in front of the main gate of the presidential residence for over two hours early Wednesday following a botched attempt to apprehend Yoon earlier this month.

Local media reported that the investigators were involved in a "physical clash" with the security service. Police warned that any attempt to resist the warrant's execution could lead to arrest.

Investigators attempted to arrest Yoon in the presidential residence on Jan. 3, but it failed as the presidential security service blocked the execution of the arrest warrant.

A Seoul court granted the extension of warrant to apprehend Yoon on Jan. 7 by issuing the second warrant against the impeached president.

An impeachment motion against Yoon was passed by the National Assembly on Dec. 14 last year and delivered to the constitutional court to deliberate it for up to 180 days, during which Yoon's presidential power is suspended.

Yoon, who was named by investigative agencies as a suspected ringleader on an insurrection charge, declared a martial law on the night of Dec. 3 but it was revoked by the National Assembly hours later.

SEOUL -- The South Korean constitutional court on Tuesday said the second hearing of the trial of President Yoon Suk-yeol's impeachment will be held on Thursday.

The court on Tuesday held the first hearing of the case but only lasted for about four minutes due to Yoon's absence.

During Tuesday's session, the court rejected Yoon's request to avoid a newly appointed justice in the first formal hearing of Yoon's impeachment trial.

According to South Korean laws, the parties involved must appear for the hearings. If a party is absent, the court will conclude the session and schedule the next hearing date. However, if a party fails to appear for a second time, the court may proceed.

SEOUL -- A South Korean court issued a warrant to arrest the acting chief of the presidential security service who blocked an attempt earlier this month to arrest impeached President Yoon Suk-yeol, multiple media outlets said Tuesday.

The arrest warrant against the acting presidential security chief was issued on Monday by the Seoul Western District Court on the charge of obstructing the execution of special public affairs.

The acting chief rejected police calls three times to appear for questioning over the charge.

Investigators attempted to arrest Yoon in the presidential residence on Jan 3, but it failed as the presidential security service blocked the execution of the arrest warrant.

A Seoul court granted the extension of the warrant to apprehend Yoon on Jan 7 by issuing the second warrant against the impeached president.

An impeachment motion against Yoon was passed by the National Assembly on Dec 14 last year and delivered to the constitutional court to deliberate it for up to 180 days, during which Yoon's presidential power is suspended.

Yoon, who was named by investigative agencies as a suspected ringleader on an insurrection charge, declared a martial law on the night of Dec 3 but it was revoked by the National Assembly hours later.

SEOUL -- The South Korean constitutional court started the first hearing of President Yoon Suk-yeol's impeachment trial on Tuesday.

Yoon did not appear at the hearing.

The court on Tuesday rejected Yoon's request to avoid a newly appointed justice in the first formal hearing of Yoon's impeachment trial.

The first hearing continued just for about four minutes as the embattled president failed to appear in the court.

Yoon's side called for Jeong Gye-seon, the recently inaugurated justice recommended by the main liberal opposition Democratic Party, to be excluded from hearings and trial against Yoon's impeachment, only to be dismissed by the constitutional court.

Two newly appointed justices, including Jeong, filled two of three vacancies in the nine-member bench and launched their duties earlier this month, raising a possibility for Yoon's impeachment being upheld.

To oust Yoon from office, at least six justices of the constitutional court are required to uphold the impeachment.

Yoon's defense counsel said Sunday that the president would not attend the hearing on concerns about safety and mishaps, caused by continued attempts to arrest Yoon.

Following the first hearing, the court planned to hold next hearings on Jan 16, Jan 21, Jan 23 and Feb 4.

An impeachment motion against Yoon was passed by the National Assembly on Dec 14 last year and delivered to the constitutional court to deliberate it for up to 180 days, during which Yoon's presidential power is suspended.

Yoon, who was named by investigative agencies as a suspected ringleader on insurrection charge, declared a martial law on the night of Dec 3. It was revoked by the National Assembly hours later.

Investigators attempted to arrest Yoon in the presidential residence on Jan 3, but it failed as the presidential security service blocked the execution of the arrest warrant.

A Seoul court granted the extension of warrant to apprehend Yoon on Jan 7 by issuing the second warrant against the impeached president.

SEOUL -- South Korea's police, anti-corruption agency, and presidential security service on Tuesday discussed the execution of warrant to arrest impeached President Yoon Suk-yeol.

The three-way meeting was held at about 8:00 am local time (2300 GMT Monday) among officials from Corruption Investigation Office for High-ranking Officials (CIO), National Office of Investigation (NOI) and presidential security service.

The joint investigation unit, comprising the CIO, the NOI and the defense ministry's investigative headquarters, said in a short notice that it requested cooperation from the security service to proceed with the arrest warrant safely and peacefully, adding that it was waiting for the security service's response.

During the discussion, the two sides allegedly confirmed their difference in position as the security service reiterated its previous position to block the warrant execution.

The NOI sent an official letter on Monday, asking the CIO and the security service to hold the meeting amid growing concerns about physical conflict during the warrant execution that was widely expected to happen early Wednesday, according to multiple media outlets.

The NOI and the CIO reportedly planned a large-scale operation, involving about 1,000 investigators, to arrest Yoon.

Investigators attempted to arrest Yoon in the presidential residence on Jan 3, but it failed as the presidential security service blocked the execution of the arrest warrant.

A Seoul court granted the extension of warrant to apprehend Yoon on Jan 7 by issuing the second warrant against the impeached president.

The impeachment motion against Yoon was passed in the National Assembly on Dec 14, 2024, and was delivered to the constitutional court to deliberate it for up to 180 days, during which Yoon's presidential power is suspended.

Yoon, who was named by investigative agencies as a suspected ringleader on an insurrection charge, declared martial law on the night of Dec 3 but it was revoked by the National Assembly hours later.