• It was in 2nd attempt that Yoon was detained after his security had blocked arrest on Jan. 3
• Yoon, 63, faces charges of insurrection and treason over his Dec. 3 decree to impose martial law
• He is being questioned at Corruption Investigation Office for High-ranking Officials in Gwacheon, south of capital Seoul

WASHINGTON / ISTANBUL 

South Korea’s impeached President Yoon Suk Yeol was detained by police in a second attempt on Wednesday and is undergoing questioning, marking a historic first for a sitting leader of the country.

Yoon, 63, was detained 43 days after he shocked the nation on Dec. 3 by imposing martial law, which was annulled after parliament overturned his decision within hours.

He was charged with insurrection and treason and the Corruption Investigation Office for High-ranking Officials (CIO) is expected to “seek a warrant to formally arrest him within 48 hours,” Seoul-based Yonhap News reported.

Investigators detained the impeached president at his residence in the capital Seoul.

A detention warrant was executed at 10:33 a.m. local time (0133GMT) by the CIO.

He was soon driven to the anti-graft office in Gwacheon, south of the capital Seoul and the formal questioning, in the presence of Yoon's lawyers, began at 11:00 a.m. (0200GMT).

Authorities are expected to detain Yoon at the Seoul Detention Center in Uiwang, near the office of the anti-graft body, following the questioning.

As the questioning proceeded, the CIO said Yoon had refused to testify over the martial law declaration.


Dramatic turn of events

The detention of Yoon saw dramatic scenes since earlier this month when the presidential security service blocked the anti-graft body from detaining the embattled leader.

It was the first time in South Korea’s history that a court had issued arrest warrants against a sitting president.

He also faces a travel ban, another historic first against a sitting president.

The Jan. 3 attempt to detain Yoon resulted in a five-hour-long standoff between government agencies and later the anti-graft body returned empty-handed.

However, the CIO secured an extension in the arrest warrant up to Jan. 21 and it formed a joint body with police to execute the warrant.

Some 3,200 police personnel were mobilized to secure access to the presidential compound which lies at the foothills of Mt. Maebong.

As anticipated, the joint team of investigators launched a pre-dawn raid at Yoon’s residence which saw physical clashes as presidential security initially blocked the entry of the arrest team.

At least one person was transferred for treatment due to injury. It is not clear how he got injured.

Giving in to ‘avoid bloodshed,’ says embattled leader

After an operation of about seven hours, the investigators detained Yoon, who also released a video message, calling his arrest “illegal.”

“This is to avoid bloodshed,” Yoon said before he left his highly fortified residence.

Many had warned against a physical clash between presidential security and the joint team of investigators during a second arrest attempt.

"To prevent an unfortunate and violent incident, I decided to appear before the CIO even though I believe the investigation is illegal," Yoon said.

Since his shocking move last month, South Korea has seen continued both for and against protests amid freezing temperatures.

While some have sought to block arrest of Yoon, hundreds of others have backed the impeachment motion of parliament which saw 204 of total 300 lawmakers voting to remove Yoon on Dec. 14.

Yoon remains suspended from the office since and is facing a trial by Constitutional Court, which has up to six months to decide on the parliament impeachment.

He refused to attend the first obligatory oral trial on Tuesday, fearing arrest.

Previously, a court in Seoul issued arrest warrants against him, Yoon had already refused to entertain three summonses by investigators.

If the top court decides against the parliament's motion, Yoon will quickly be reinstated to his office.

However, if the impeachment motion is upheld, Yoon will be removed and presidential elections are due within two months from the date the Constitutional Court announces its verdict.

The state affairs, in Yoon’s absence, are run by an acting president from his Cabinet.