Investing.com -- South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol, who was impeached, was arrested on Wednesday, as reported by an anti-corruption agency investigating his attempt to impose martial law on Dec. 3. Yoon is the first incumbent South Korean president to be arrested. The arrest comes after a long standoff with authorities investigating him over alleged insurrection.
Yoon, 64, has been facing numerous personal scandals, strong opposition, and internal party rifts since midway through his five-year term. Despite being a seasoned political survivor, his recent legal troubles contrast starkly with his illustrious pre-politics career as a top prosecutor.
This position catapulted him into the public eye and garnered much of the support that led to his victory in the 2022 presidential election, marking his first elected office.
However, since his narrow victory in the election, Yoon has been embroiled in continuous political battles, which many believe have led to reckless behavior, a trait that a former rival has described as his defining characteristic.
By the time Yoon attempted to impose martial law on Dec. 3, a move that shocked many South Koreans, he was already politically weakened. His duties were suspended following his impeachment by parliament on Dec. 14 for his attempt to enforce martial law.
Seok Dong-hyeon, a long-time friend and adviser to Yoon, stated that the impeached president was ready to cooperate with investigators if the authorities who had come to arrest him retreated from his residence.
As his legal troubles continue to pile up, Yoon's political future now lies in the hands of the Constitutional Court.
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