Synopsis
On January 19, President Yoon Suk Yeol of South Korea has been formally arrested due to allegations of insurrection and abuse of power. The anti-corruption agency has banned him from meeting anyone except his lawyers, marking a significant moment in South Korean history.Key Takeaways
- President Yoon Suk Yeol has been formally arrested.
- He is banned from meeting visitors aside from his legal team.
- The arrest is tied to allegations of insurrection and abuse of power.
- This marks the first time a sitting president has been detained.
- Yoon encourages peaceful expression of opinions by his supporters.
Seoul, January 19 (NationPress) The anti-corruption investigative body announced on Sunday that President Yoon Suk Yeol, who was officially detained due to his unsuccessful martial law attempt, will face restrictions on visitor meetings, allowing only his legal representatives.
The Corruption Investigation Office for High-ranking Officials (CIO) made this decision after a court issued a warrant earlier in the day to formally arrest the impeached President Yoon Suk Yeol over accusations of insurrection and abuse of power connected to his martial law declaration dated December 3, according to Yonhap.
The CIO indicated that it has forwarded a document outlining its decision to a detention facility in Uiwang, located just south of Seoul, where Yoon is currently held, citing worries about potential evidence destruction.
This restriction will remain in place until his indictment.
As a result of the CIO's action, First Lady Kim Keon Hee and other close associates of Yoon will not be allowed to visit him.
Legal analysts suggested that the CIO's move seems to be a preparation for the possibility that Yoon's defense team might file a petition to challenge the appropriateness of his detention.
The CIO also mentioned on Sunday that it would summon Yoon for questioning on Monday, as he did not attend the earlier scheduled session.
With the issuance of the arrest warrant, Yoon has now become the first sitting president to be officially detained.
In a show of anger, Yoon's supporters stormed the district court that issued the warrant earlier in the day, causing damage to office equipment and discharging a fire extinguisher at police.
Through a statement from his lawyers, Yoon urged his supporters to express their views "peacefully," acknowledging their frustrations.
Yoon also affirmed his intention to rectify the missteps, stating that he would demonstrate the legality of the martial law declaration throughout the legal process.
