South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol was detained on Wednesday after a massive law enforcement operation at the presidential compound that ended a weeks-long stand-off between his bodyguards and the country's anti-corruption agency.

The impeachment of Han Duck-soo, acting president since Yoon was impeached on Dec. 14 for declaring martial law, has thrown South Korea's once-vibrant democratic success story into uncharted territory.

The Constitutional Court requires six out of nine justices to remove Yoon, but three seats remain vacant.View on euronews

The Corruption Investigation Office for High-Ranking Officials said Yoon was brought into custody about three hours after hundreds of law enforcement officers entered the resident

The vote is the second impeachment in just two weeks after the former president, Yoon Suk-yeol, imposed a short-lived martial law order pushing the country into political turmoil.View on euronews

Impeached South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol was arrested on Wednesday, an anti-graft agency investigating his Dec. 3 martial law attempt said in a statement. (Reporting by Hyonhee Shin; Editing by Ed Davies g) Copyright 2025 Thomson Reuters.

Police are gathering to execute a warrant to arrest Yoon, who was impeached last month after imposing martial law but has refused to cooperate with investigations.