Your trusted source

South Korea's impeached President Yoon Suk Yeol was arrested on Wednesday over insurrection accusations related to his December 3 martial law declaration, investigators said.

The Asian country's anti-corruption agency confirmed Yoon had been detained hours after hundreds of investigators and police officers arrived at his presidential compound to apprehend him, DW reported.

South Korea entered its worst political crisis in decades after Yoon sent soldiers to storm the parliament following his declaration of martial law.

A former prosecutor who led the conservative People Power Party to election victory in 2022, Yoon said he relented to avoid "bloodshed."

"When I saw them break into the security area using firefighting equipment today, I decided to respond to the CIO's investigation, despite it being an illegal investigation, to prevent unsavory bloodshed," Yoon said in a statement, referring to the Corruption Investigation Office for High-ranking Officials (CIO).

However, it appeared that Yoon was not forthcoming following his arrest. A CIO official told reporters that the former president "is exercising his right to remain silent" while in their custody.

Wednesday's arrest makes Yoon the first incumbent president in the country's history to be taken into custody. He could face life in jail or even the death penalty if found guilty of insurrection.