South Korea's anti-corruption agency says impeached President Yoon Suk Yeol has been detained several hours after hundreds of the agency's investigators and police officers arrived at his presidential compound to apprehend him.
Key Events
-
Yoon remains silent in interrogation, investigation office says
-
Yoon expected to held in a solitary cell
-
President Yoon's questioning has begun
Thank you for following our live coverage
This is where we will leave our live coverage of detained impeached South Korean president President Yoon Suk Yeol.
You can keep up to date with any major updated here.
Here's a summary of what happened today:
- South Korea's impeached President Yoon Suk Yeol was detained and questioned as part of an investigation into alleged insurrection
- The accusations are related to Yoon's martial law attempt in December last year
- More than 3,000 police officers marched onto Yoon's residence this morning
- Authorities have 48 hours to question Yoon after which they must seek a warrant or release him
- Yoon is refusing to talk and has not agreed to have interviews with investigators recorded on video, an official says
- His lawyers are continuing to argue that the Corruption Investigation Office does not have the authority to handle his case
Protesters applaud Yoon's silence
Dozens of protesters remain outside the headquarters of South Korea's anti-corruption watchdog.
We're hearing reports from inside that Yoon Suk Yeol is refusing to answer questions.
Lee Song Man (ABC News: James Oaten)
Outside, his supporters applaud his defiance.
"President Yoon will sacrifice himself for us, and the freedom of Korea," said one protester Lee Song Man.
"I'm very sad today because something happened that shouldn't be happening."
Park Soon Rae (ABC News: James Oaten)
In the eyes of his supporters, today's arrest is nothing more than a political witch hunt.
"This arrest should have been done in a lawful way. I ran here to protest," said protester Park Soon Rae.
Questions over Corruption Investigation Office's capacity
Authorities have 20 days to indict President Yoon Suk Yeol from the moment of his arrest and the clock is ticking.
The Corruption Investigation Office, which will question him in that period, is made up of prosecutors under its head Oh Dong-woon, who was formerly a judge.
Two of the four investigative divisions currently have no staff and just nine prosecutors and Oh's deputy are handling Yoon's case.
It's led to questions over whether the agency has the capacity to successfully build a case against the impeached president.
This is what some of the protesters had to say
Some protesters displayed fervent support, for or against Yoon, outside his residence earlier today.
"Even though I am nearly 70 years old, I can never allow this free Republic of Korea to be handed over to Lee Jae-myung, the one who is a coup leader," pro-Yoon supporter Kim Wook-Hee said.
But for the anti-Yoon protesters, justice was precedent for their rally.
"The side of President Yoon Suk Yeol might argue that this concerns national dignity and that the status of the president should not be treated in this way," 51-year-old Cho Sun-Ah said.
"But regardless of all of that, I think it's wrong for the leader of a rebellion to not face any legal consequences."
US and Japan respond to Yoon's detainment
A White House National Security Council spokesperson says the US is committed to working with the government in Seoul.
It added that it appreciates all its efforts and citizens "to act in accordance with the Constitution".
Meanwhile, the top government spokesperson Japan Yoshimasa Hayashi told a daily news briefing that Tokyo was following developments in South Korea "with particular and serious interest".
Election fraud claims repeated in Facebook post
In a Facebook post, Mr Yoon has repeated election fraud claims and spoke of "hostile" nations attacking the country, alluding to North Korea.
He also thanks his supporters in what appears to be a hand written letter.
Reporting with AFP
WATCH: Pro-Yoon protesters outside the Corruption Investigation Office
Earlier, we heard from our North Asia correspondent James Oaten who is outside the Corruption Investigation Office.
You can hear more about what it's like at the scene here:
In pictures: Seoul Detention Center
While in custody, Mr Yoon is expected to be held at Seoul Detention Center in Uiwang, South Korea.
According to precedent and due to his status, Mr Yoon will probably be assigned a solitary cell.
Here's some pictures of the centre:
(Reuters: Kim Hong-Ji)
(Reuters: Kim Hong-Ji)
(Reuters: Kim Hong-Ji)
Refuses questioning to be filmed
Yoon has refused to be filmed during questioning, according to a Corruption Investigation Office official.
Investigators began questioning Yoon shortly after his arrest but said that he had exercised "his right to remain silent".
The official added that Yoon would spend the night at a detention centre.
Yoon remains silent in interrogation, investigation office says
South Korea's impeached President Yoon Suk Yeol is refusing to talk during an interrogation over allegations he masterminded insurrection, the country's corruption investigation office says.
An official at the Corruption Investigation Office for High-ranking Officials says he didn't have further information on why Yoon had remained silent.
Yoon has become the country's first incumbent president to be detained by authorities.
Reporting with Reuters
Yoon's lawyer says he voluntarily went with investigators
A lawyer advising impeached South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol says Yoon voluntarily accompanied authorities investigating him for alleged insurrection today.
He added that this was due to Yoon's concern for the safety of citizens and presidential security officials.
Before his detainment, Yoon said had decided to submit himself to investigators to "prevent unsavoury bloodshed".
What does the next two days look like for Yoon?
Yoon has been taken to the offices of the Corruption Investigation Office for High-ranking Officials (CIO) that is leading the investigation.
There is a possibility that the entire questioning could be video recorded, according to media reports.
The interrogation facilities include a newly created rest area with a sofa to accommodate Yoon, local media outlet Yonhap News Agency reported.
We mentioned earlier that authorities would have 48 hours to question Yoon before they must seek a warrant or release him.
Yoon is expected to be held in the Seoul Detention Centre while in custody.
According to precedent and due to his status, Yoon will probably be assigned a solitary cell.
He will go through the formality of an ID check and health examination.
The impeached president will join the life of a pre-trial detainee, rising at 6:30 am and with lights out at 9 pm.
Reporting with Reuters
Yoon expected to held in a solitary cell
South Korea's impeached President Yoon Suk Yeol is expected to be held in a solitary cell at a detention centre.
While he is the first incumbent president to be detained in South Korea, other high-profile figures including former president Park Geun-hye and Samsung Electronics chairman Jay Y. Lee have also spent time in the Seoul Detention Centre.
Yoon's supporters protest outside the investigation office
ABC's North Asia correspondent James Oaten is outside the Corruption Investigation Office in Seoul.
There are plenty of pro -Yoon protesters outside the complex and Oaten says there is a mood of "defiance".
"After questioning, he's expected to be detained at a nearby detention centre," he says.
"The mayor of Seoul says he doesn't want that to happen … but the impeached president will be detained and he can be held for 48 hours before charged."
What do the courts say?
The Constitutional Court said on Monday that it's reviewing the complaint and injunction filed by Mr Yoon's lawyers.
Mr Yoon's team filed a complaint and an injunction with the Constitutional Court to review the legitimacy of the warrant, which ultimately led to his detainment
The Seoul Western District Court, dismissing a similar complaint previously, said it was not illegal for the Corruption Investigation Office to handle Mr Yoon's case as allegations of insurrection are included in abuse of power charges covered by the agency.
Mr Yoon's lawyers criticised the court's statement as "sophistry" and said they will consider appealing the decision to a higher court.
Reporting with Reuters
WATCH: ABC's Kathleen Calderwood explains what's happened
Mr Yoon's supporters show 'spirit of defiance'
There’s a spirit of defiance outside the government building where Yoon Suk Yeol is being detained and questioned.
Hundreds of his supporters are chanting, waving Korean and US flags.
(ABC News: James Oaten)
The familiar signage of “stop the steal” and “CCP out” are on display – as protesters believe conspiracy theories that those who want Mr Yoon gone are communist sympathisers and were involved in election fraud.
(ABC News: James Oaten)
Mr Yoon can be held for 48 hours before charge.
After questioning, he’s expected to be taken to a detention centre nearby.
(ABC News: James Oaten)
Who is Yoon Suk Yeol?
Yoon Suk Yeol has now become the first incumbent South Korean president to be detained.
Seen by some as a tough political survivor, Mr Yoon became increasingly isolated halfway through his five-year term.
His leadership has been characterised by personal scandals, an unyielding opposition and rifts within his own party.
Although Mr Yoon's career as a top prosecutor sparked much of the support contributing to his victory in the 2022, his presidency hasn't been smooth sailing.
By the time Mr Yoon briefly imposed martial law last year, he was badly bruised politically.
The last year of his leadership has been overshadowed by a several scandals, one involving his wife who was accused of inappropriately accepting a pricey Christian Dior handbag as a gift.
Reporting with Reuters
ANALYSIS: As conspiracy theories swirl, South Korea is gripped by uncertainty
While President Yoon's submission to the arrest warrant marks the end of this now weeks-long stand off, the political drama in South Korea is far from over.
This warrant only allows the Corruption Investigation Office to detain Mr Yoon for 48 hours, and they'll have to seek another one to keep him for longer.
There's also a separate proceeding in the Constitutional Court to determine whether to uphold Mr Yoon's impeachment by the parliament and remove him from office.
But this saga has exposed deep divisions within South Korean society, and both sides have come out in force, braving sub-zero temperatures to protest.
Yoon's supporters scuffle with police as police seek to execute their arrest warrant. (Reuters: Tyrone Siu )
When he declared martial law in early December, Mr Yoon claimed he needed to "protect [South Korea's] liberal democracy from the threat of overthrowing the regime … by anti-state forces active within the [country]," leaning into a belief that the left-leaning opposition, which controls parliament, are North Korean sympathisers.
Despite not presenting any evidence of any such conspiracy, Mr Yoon's supporters who have spoken to the ABC routinely referenced their fears of the threat of communism, North Korea and even China.
On the other hand, those demonstrating against Mr Yoon see his actions as a threat to the country's democracy, and are increasingly angered by his refusal to comply with law enforcement and the parliament.
It's worth noting that despite previously saying he would not evade "legal and political responsibility" and that he would participate in the Constitutional Court process, Mr Yoon didn't show up at the first hearing yesterday, his lawyers citing fears for his safety due to the live arrest warrant.
Amidst this chaos, last week, US Secretary of State Antony Blinken visited Seoul on his farewell tour around Asia, expressing concern over Mr Yoon's actions, but also faith in the South Korea's democracy.
All this has continues as the inauguration of president-elect Donald Trump nears, and there's no sign it will be finalised any time soon.
With nearly 30,000 American troops stationed in South Korea, and North Korea launching missiles into the ocean this week and last, it's a worrying time for one of the US's most important allies in Asia to be so unpredictable.
It's been more than two hours since Mr Yoon's questioning began
It's almost 1:30 pm in South Korea right now.
Investigators from the Corruption Investigation Office (CIO) began questioning Mr Yoon at 11 am local time , Yonhap reported.
That means that it has been just over two hours since the questioning began.
We are still yet to hear anything, but we'll bring you updates when they come.
