South Korea's suspended president Yoon has been arrested

Suspended South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol was arrested on Wednesday to briefly impose martial law in December, Yonhap news agency reported.

Police and staff from South Korea's anti-corruption office escorted Yoon from his residence Wednesday morning to the public prosecutor's office in their second attempt to do so, Yonhap said.

The campaign appeared to be peaceful despite security concerns.

The agency cited the Chief Corruption Investigation Office (CIO), which said the arrest warrant was issued at 10:33 am (0133 GMT).

This is the first time in the country's history that a sitting president has been arrested in South Korea.

Yoon was seen entering the CIO headquarters for questioning. According to Yonhap, investigators will seek a warrant to legally arrest the president within 48 hours.

“Although it is an illegal investigation, I decided to agree to the CIO's appearance to avoid bad blood,” Yoon said in a recorded video message he released after his arrest.

On Tuesday, the Constitutional Court postponed the first hearing of Yoon's case because he was not present. The 64-year-old suspect, through his lawyer, said he did not attend for security reasons.

On December 3, Yoon briefly declared martial law amid a budget dispute with the opposition.

In mid-December, the lawyers removed him from office until further notice on the charges of abuse of power and treason, the Constitutional Court is reviewing the decision.

Yoon defended his decision by declaring martial law to protect the nation from “anti-state forces” – meaning his political opponents.

Currently, former finance minister and Deputy Prime Minister Choi Sang Mok is in charge of state affairs.