Ladders, noodle stations and K-pop: how the arrest of South Korea’s president unfolded

Seoul: Early in the morning, the streets around Yoon Suk Yeol’s residence were buzzing. It felt like rush hour with police and protesters everywhere.

Roads were blocked off, and thousands of officers were on duty in the chilly winter air. Supporters of Yoon were chanting loudly, waving red light sticks and American flags.

Meanwhile, a smaller group of anti-Yoon protesters had managed to get close to the gates, separated by police barriers.

To keep spirits up, tea and instant noodle stations were set up for both sides. It was a strange but lively scene.

Yoon’s supporters held banners saying “Stop the steal,” referring to claims of election interference. On the flip side, anti-Yoon chants of “Arrest him now!” filled the air.

As dawn broke and it warmed up a bit, the mood shifted for the anti-Yoon crowd. They started singing and dancing, broadcasting live as the arrest operation kicked off.

This time, investigators were ready. We saw them climbing over walls with ladders and sneaking in through mountain paths.

Inside, there were reports of clashes with security, and at least one person had to be taken away by paramedics.

Opposition lawmaker Han Chang-min noted that the security staff weren’t as aggressive as expected, and police were trying to work with them.

As the situation unfolded, it became clear that the defenses around Yoon’s residence were weakening.

The anti-Yoon crowd cheered, “Come out! Come out!” There was a sense that something big was about to happen.

For 43 days, Yoon had held out in his residence after declaring martial law, but now it seemed like his stronghold was crumbling.

By around 10:30 am, police lined the roads even more. Suddenly, a convoy of vehicles appeared, and cheers erupted from the pro-impeachment crowd: “They got him!”

In a flash, police barriers came down, and investigators poured out of the gates. The jubilant protesters shouted their thanks to the officers as they celebrated to K-pop tunes.

On the other side, Yoon’s supporters were in shock. Some were in tears, while others were angrily questioning how this could happen.

Just before his arrest, Yoon had sent out a defiant message, insisting he was complying to avoid bloodshed, not because he accepted the situation.

He made history as the first sitting South Korean president to be arrested, a huge fall for a leader who had recently tried to impose military rule.

The morning felt like a live drama, with every moment broadcasted on news channels.

As Yoon arrived at the anti-corruption agency’s offices, investigators were ready to question him about serious charges that could lead to the death penalty.

He faces 48 hours of questioning, after which they’ll decide whether to keep him detained or let him go. Meanwhile, the constitutional court is still considering his impeachment, which could potentially reinstate him.

For now, many South Koreans were just trying to wrap their heads around the wild scenes they had witnessed. The siege was over, and the president was in custody.