SEOUL, South Korea — On Wednesday, South Korean officials took the action of arresting the impeached President Yoon Suk Yeol due to allegations of insurrection related to his declaration of martial law on December 3, according to investigators.

Yoon’s presidential convoy departed from his hillside residence, where he had been secluded for several weeks, surrounded by barbed wire and a significant presence of personal security forces. The convoy later made its way to the offices of the anti-corruption agency that is leading the investigation.

In a public statement, Yoon expressed that he chose to turn himself in for questioning in order to prevent any violent confrontations after over 3,000 police officers advanced on his residence to take him into custody early Wednesday morning.

“When I observed them forcibly entering the secured area with firefighting tools, I resolved to cooperate with the CIO’s inquiry – despite my belief that it is an unlawful investigation – to avert unnecessary bloodshed,” Yoon mentioned in his statement.

Yoon’s legal team contends that the efforts to apprehend him are unlawful and intended to tarnish his reputation. The arrest warrant that has been issued against him marks the first instance of such a warrant being issued for a sitting South Korean president.

As news outlets reported that Yoon’s arrest could be imminent, there were minor altercations between emotional pro-Yoon demonstrators and police near his residence, as witnessed by a Reuters reporter on the scene.

Yoon’s implementation of martial law shocked the citizens of South Korea and brought about a period of significant political unrest in a nation known for its strong democratic practices. On December 14, lawmakers voted to impeach him and suspend his presidential responsibilities.

Additionally, the Constitutional Court is currently reviewing whether to uphold this impeachment and permanently remove him from his position.