Impeached President Yoon Suk Yeol delivers a public address at his residence in Yongsan, central Seoul, on Wednesday (Jan. 15, 2025), before heading to the headquarters of the Corruption Investigation Office for High-ranking Officials for questioning, in this image provided by the presidential office. (Yonhap)
SEOUL – Impeached South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol said Wednesday he decided to appear before an anti-corruption agency’s questioning to avoid risks of bloodshed, while claiming the agency’s probe is “illegal”.
He stated before heading to the headquarters of the Corruption Investigation Office for High-ranking Officials (CIO) in Gwacheon, south of Seoul, as the CIO and the police executed a warrant to detain the besieged president over his short-lived imposition of martial law.
“To prevent an unfortunate and violent incident, I decided to appear before the CIO even though I believe the investigation is illegal,” he said in a video message recorded at his Yongsan, central Seoul residence.
Investigators detained Yoon on charges of leading an insurrection, marking the first time a sitting president has been arrested. (Yonhap)