South Korea’s impeached president Yoon spends first night in jail

South Korea’s impeached president, Yoon Suk Yeol, spent his first night behind bars as a criminal suspect following a formal arrest on insurrection charges, marking an unprecedented moment in the nation’s history.

Yoon, detained in a pre-dawn raid last week, is the first sitting South Korean head of state to face such measures. A court approved his arrest warrant on Sunday, citing concerns he might tamper with evidence. The suspended president now awaits indictment and trial.

Upon entering the Seoul Detention Center in Uiwang, Yoon was processed like any other inmate, according to Shin Yong-hae, commissioner general of the Korea Correctional Service. Yoon’s 12-square-meter cell includes basic furnishings such as a small table, a sink, a toilet, and a shelf, as well as a television with restricted viewing times.

“He cooperated well with the procedures without any particular issues,” Shin told lawmakers during a parliamentary session. Yoon has also been assigned an inmate number and is required to wear a khaki prison uniform, per regulations.

Yoon’s detention follows the fallout from his December 3 declaration of martial law, which lawmakers overturned within hours. Parliament later impeached him, transferring his powers to an acting president while he awaits a Constitutional Court decision on the impeachment.

The insurrection charges center on his handling of the martial law order, which plunged the country into political chaos. Yoon has called the probe illegal and vowed to fight the charges, resisting arrest for weeks before his capture.

South Korean President’s supporters clash with authorities

Tensions escalated outside the Seoul court that approved Yoon’s arrest, with thousands of his supporters gathering in protest. According to police, some 300 protesters threw objects, including glass bottles and rocks, and stormed the court premises, smashing windows and damaging property.

Dozens were arrested, and 51 police officers sustained injuries, some with head wounds and fractures. Authorities have said they will enhance measures to prevent further disruptions.

Yoon, through his lawyers, declined to attend questioning on Monday. The Corruption Investigation Office, overseeing the case, has indicated it may issue a “forced summons” to secure his cooperation.

As the nation watches the unfolding drama, Yoon remains in his cell, isolated from other inmates and under scrutiny, a symbol of the deep divisions within South Korean society.