“When I saw them break into the security area using firefighting equipment today, I decided to respond to the CIO’s [Corruption Investigation Office] investigation — despite it being an illegal investigation — to prevent unsavoury bloodshed,” he said in a statement.

The arrest warrant secured by investigators is the first ever issued against an incumbent South Korean president.

Why was Yoon arrested?

He has also been under investigation on charges of insurrection and was summoned for questioning by the CIO, but he did not appear.

Yoon’s lawyers said the arrest warrant was illegal because it was issued by a court in the wrong jurisdiction, and the team that was set up to investigate him had no legal mandate to do so.

Why did Yoon declare martial law?

“To safeguard a liberal South Korea from the threats posed by North Korea’s communist forces and to eliminate anti-state elements plundering people’s freedom and happiness, I hereby declare emergency martial law,” he said during his live televised address to the nation at the time.

He described the imposition of martial law as “inevitable to guarantee the continuity of a liberal South Korea”.

Yoon exercises ‘right to remain silent’

His supporters were heard chanting “illegal warrant!” while waving glow sticks and South Korean and American flags.