Impeached South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol was arrested early Wednesday following a weeks-long standoff over his failed attempt to impose martial law. This marks the first time a sitting president in South Korea has been arrested.  

Yoon, who led the conservative People Power Party to a 2022 electoral victory, faces insurrection charges and could face life imprisonment or the death penalty if convicted. The charges stem from his short-lived martial law bid last month.  

The standoff began after Yoon refused to surrender and fortified his residence with barbed wire and barricades, supported by loyal members of the Presidential Security Service (PSS). On January 3, an initial attempt to arrest him was thwarted following hours of tense negotiations.  

Before dawn on Wednesday, hundreds of police and anti-graft investigators from the Corruption Investigation Office launched a second raid. Officers scaled walls and used back trails to surround the main residence. After hours of confrontation, Yoon was taken into custody.  

In a pre-recorded video message released after his arrest, Yoon stated, "I decided to respond to the Corruption Investigation Office," while questioning the investigation's legality. He emphasized compliance to "prevent any unfortunate bloodshed."  

Yoon was escorted from his residence in a convoy to the Corruption Investigation Office, signaling the culmination of a dramatic political episode. The investigation is expected to continue as South Korea grapples with the fallout from this unprecedented arrest.