Martial law, memes and mayhem: the rise and fall of South Korea’s Yoon Suk-yeol
His justification for finally surrendering after weeks of dodging arrest attempts? To “prevent any unfortunate bloodshed” amid an hours-long stand-off between anti-corruption investigators and his presidential security detail. But the former prosecutor-turned-president also lashed out at the nation’s institutions, claiming “the rule of law has completely collapsed in this country”.
Yoon’s journey from a gritty prosecutor to a polarising president accused of authoritarianism is a tale of political ambition, scandal and a country divided.
His arrest comes amid a backdrop of a presidency marked by controversy: his wife’s alleged corruption, a botched response to a national tragedy, and a miscalculation so severe that it could end his political career halfway through his five-year term.
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South Korea’s impeached President Yoon Suk-yeol arrested after weeks-long stand-off