So, earlier today, South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol was finally arrested, and it’s, like, the first time ever a sitting president has been detained in South Korea. This all happened after a weeks-long stand-off where the President hid in his residence while protected by his security and supporters.

So how did it all start? Well, Yoon Suk Yeol was, like, this super famous prosecutor who went after all these big political figures. He got known as an anti-corruption hero, which helped him become president in 2022. But, his time in office was full of drama, with, like, scandals and fights with other politicians.

Things got way intense on December 3, 2024, when President Yoon declared martial law because he was, like, fighting with the legislature. The National Assembly was, like, “No way!” and canceled it. Then, on December 14, they impeached him, which suspended his powers and made Prime Minister Han Duck-soo the acting president.

After getting impeached, Yoon hid out in the presidential residence in Seoul and, like, wouldn’t talk to investigators. They tried to arrest him on January 3, 2025, but his security was, like, “Not happening.”

Then, on January 15, investigators accessed the residence via some kind of hiking trail in the back, and even brought climbing ladders to get into Yoon’s residential compound. Apparently, there was fighting inside the compound but eventually Yoon finally gave up to avoid any violence, but he still insists, “This arrest isn’t legit.”

People in South Korea are totally split over this. Yoon’s fans are saying the arrest was illegal, and some even tried to block it from happening. But others, especially in the opposition, are celebrating it as a win for democracy. Democratic Party floor leader Park Chan-dae was, like, “This is the first step toward restoring constitutional order, democracy, and the rule of law.”

Now, the Constitutional Court is figuring out if the impeachment is legit. If they say it is, Yoon will be permanently out, and there’ll be a new election in 60 days. In the meantime, Finance Minister Choi Sang-mok is the acting president because Han Duck-soo also got impeached. And you thought your country’s politics were messy!

South Korea has a history with authoritarian rule and coups. They moved to democracy in the late 20th century after, like, a lot of protests and calls for change. This current drama, with the martial law and impeachment is bringing back memories of those times.

Victor Cha, a senior fellow at the Center for Strategic and International Studies, was, like, “Yoon’s arrest marks an unprecedented moment in South Korean politics, highlighting the resilience of its democratic institutions.”

So yeah, President Yoon Suk Yeol’s arrest is like a huge deal for South Korea’s democracy. As the court looks into his impeachment, the country is at a major crossroads, facing big political changes and rethinking its democratic values. Let’s see what happens next!

XOXO,
Valley Girl News

Image from Yonhap News Agency/Reuters