South Korean President Moon Jae-in arrested: Political storm intensifies, constitutional crisis difficult to resolve

South Korean President Yoon Seok Yeol was arrested by the South Korean Civil Service Crime Investigation Office (CIO) on (1/15), which has shocked the domestic political arena and also triggered international follow. At the same time, the Constitutional Court officially began the impeachment trial against him the day before, further deepening this constitutional crisis.

Voluntarily come forward to avoid "unnecessary bloodshed"

In a statement, Yin Xiyue said that he decided to appear in person to accept the investigation in order to avoid "unnecessary bloodshed conflict", but emphasized that this does not mean he acknowledges the legitimacy of the investigation. He said, "In this country, the rule of law has collapsed, and it is heartbreaking to issue arrest warrants to institutions without investigative powers."

The investigation team plans to conduct a thorough investigation into multiple allegations against Yin Xiyue, including his decision to briefly implement martial law in December last year. This move is seen as a major blow to domestic political order and market confidence, and has led to the most serious constitutional crisis in South Korea in decades.

The financial market had a slight reaction, and the Korean won and stock market experienced temporary fluctuations.

After the news of Yoon Suk-yeol's arrest, the South Korean financial market experienced a slight fluctuation. The South Korean won briefly rose by 0.2% against the US dollar, but then fell back, overall stabilizing. The Korea Composite Stock Price Index (KOSPI) also rose slightly by about 0.2%, narrowing the early gains. Despite the incident causing follow, the market's response to the political turmoil has been relatively restrained.

Overnight deployment and negotiations, the arrest operation draws to a close

The arrest operation began in the early morning. After several days of careful planning, investigators attempted to complete the arrest without causing intense conflicts. According to South Korean news agency Yonhap, Yoon Suk-yeol's security team set up three lines of defense, including buses and barbed wire, to prevent investigators from approaching the presidential residence. However, after several hours of negotiation, Yoon Suk-yeol was eventually arrested and taken to the investigation office in the suburbs of Seoul.

The police also deployed more than 3,000 officers to deal with about 6,500 supporters and opponents gathered at the scene. According to eyewitnesses, some investigators even used ladders and mountain trails to enter the surrounding area of the official residence, and eventually successfully carried out the arrest operation.

The Democratic Party supports the arrest, calling it a crucial step towards restoring democracy

After the arrest of Yoon Seok-yeol, the main opposition party in South Korea, the Democratic Party, openly expressed support for this development. Park Chan-dae, the leader of the Democratic Party in the National Assembly, said during the meeting, 'The arrest of Yoon Seok-yeol is the first step towards restoring constitutional order and achieving the rule of law. Although it is late, I am relieved for the continued existence of judicial justice in South Korea.'

The Democratic Party currently holds a majority in the National Assembly and has taken the lead in the impeachment proceedings against Prime Minister Yoon Suk-Yeol and his proxy, Han Duck-soo. They believe that an early presidential election is the only way to resolve the current political deadlock.

The voice of democracy, or political persecution?

The arrest of President Yoon Seok-yeol has generated mixed reactions among the public. Some citizens and civic groups believe that the arrest is a necessary action to hold the president accountable and uphold the rule of law. Lee Ji-hyun, a member of the civic group 'Participatory Democracy People's Alliance,' stated, 'This is not a matter of conservatives versus liberals or ruling party versus opposition party, but rather a collective outcry of the people for democracy.'

However, some people also believe that this action is a political retaliation, further tearing apart the domestic society. A citizen, Han Ah-rhem, who lives in Hannam-dong, Seoul, said, "How could this country have fallen to such a state? The current situation is simply irrational, and such an impeachment action will only make the government unable to function properly."

Yoon Suk-yeol's impeachment trial is ongoing, and the results will take several months

Currently, Yoon Suk-yeol has been relieved of the presidency, and the Constitutional Court has begun impeachment proceedings against him, which is expected to take as long as 180 days to produce results. If the impeachment is ultimately upheld, South Korea will hold a presidential election within 60 days.

Looking back on Yoon Suk-yeol's political career, he once participated as a prosecutor in the impeachment investigation against former President Park Geun-hye in 2017. Now, he himself has become the subject of a presidential investigation. With the further progress of the case, the political storm in South Korea is unlikely to subside in the short term.

This article South Korean President Yoon Suk-yeol was arrested: the political storm intensified, the constitutional crisis is difficult to calm down first appeared on Chain News ABMedia.