South Korea went through a lot of political problems recently, leading to the arrest of its impeached president, Yoon Suk-yeol. This article will explain the reasons for his arrest, the accusations against him, and what this situation means for South Korea's democracy.

Background of the case

Since taking office in May 2022, President Yoon Suk-yeol has faced a lot of criticism. People did not like some of his decisions, such as moving the presidential office to a busy area in Yongsan, Seoul, instead of using the Blue House, which had been the traditional office for over 70 years.

His way of handling the 2024 medical crisis also upset many people, especially when he decided to limit how many medical students could be enrolled.

There were also allegations that he interfered with investigations involving his wife, Kim Keon-hee, which made the public more frustrated.

On foreign matters, Yoon was criticised for appearing to favour Japan, even with its history of colonial rule over Korea from 1910 to 1945. Many South Koreans felt this showed a lack of respect for their history and struggles during that time.

The declaration of martial law

On December 3, 2024, President Yoon tried to declare martial law, which upset many people and led to large protests. Martial law reminded citizens of the difficult times under military rule, as South Korea has only been a democracy since 1988.

Opposition lawmakers quickly acted to stop this move. They accused Yoon of treason, and the Democratic Party, the main opposition, wanted a special investigator to look into his actions.

Yoon later apologised, saying martial law was a "desperate decision," and admitted it was a mistake.

The impeachment process

On December 7, the National Assembly tried to impeach President Yoon, but members of his party, the People Power Party (PPP), did not participate, so the impeachment failed. However, after more protests and pressure from the public, a second impeachment motion was passed on December 14.

This made Yoon the first South Korean president to be temporarily removed from office. While the Constitutional Court looked into the impeachment, Yoon’s powers were given to Prime Minister Han Duck-soo.

However, Prime Minister Han was also impeached just weeks later. He was accused of blocking investigations against Yoon and helping with the martial law situation.

Investigation

As protests continued, South Korea's Corruption Investigation Office (CIO) started investigating whether President Yoon tried to create problems with North Korea. Reports said that in October 2024, South Korea's defence minister sent a drone to North Korea's capital, Pyongyang, which may have been part of a plan to cause military tensions and support Yoon's attempt to declare martial law.

On December 31, 2024, an arrest warrant was issued for Yoon, accusing him of misusing his power and causing the martial law situation. However, Yoon stayed at his official home for weeks and did not cooperate with the investigation.

The situation became more tense on January 3, 2025, when investigators tried to arrest Yoon, but his Presidential Security Service (PSS) stopped them. This led to a standoff, and Yoon was not arrested that day.

Then, on January 15, after almost two weeks of tension, Yoon decided to surrender. More than 3,000 police officers and investigators surrounded his home to make sure the arrest was peaceful. Yoon’s lawyer said, “President Yoon has decided to personally appear at the Corruption Investigation Office today... to prevent a serious incident.”

At 10:33 am, Yoon was officially arrested and taken to the CIO offices for questioning.

According to South Korean law, Yoon can be held for up to 48 hours after his arrest. After that, authorities must decide if they will apply for another warrant to keep him for up to 20 days or release him. Yoon's lawyers argue that the arrest warrant was issued illegally and meant to humiliate him.

At the same time, the Constitutional Court is still deciding whether to permanently remove Yoon from office. A trial began on January 14, but Yoon didn't attend, saying he was worried about his safety. The hearings will continue without him.

Reactions in South Korea

Yoon’s supporters, along with some conservative media, have compared him to US President Donald Trump, who is also facing legal issues. In recent weeks, supporters and opponents of Yoon have clashed in protests, making the political situation in the country even more unstable.

For many South Koreans, Yoon’s actions reminded them of the times when the country was under military rule. This caused fear that South Korea could return to an authoritarian government. The protests against Yoon showed that many citizens are determined to protect democracy and are not willing to let their democratic rights be taken away.

Yoon's arrest is the first time a sitting president in South Korea has been arrested, showing how strong the country's legal and democratic systems are. His case will likely set an example for how leaders should be held responsible for their actions.

Now, South Korea faces the challenge of bringing back political stability. As investigations into Yoon continue, there will also be a focus on making changes to avoid similar crises in the future.