The President's Daily Brief
PDB Afternoon Bulletin | January 15th, 2025: Impeached South Korean President Arrested & The Threats Facing Trump's Inauguration
15 Jan 2025
In this episode of The PDB Afternoon Bulletin: Today, we’ll begin in South Korea, where impeached president Yoon Suk Yeol has been arrested as the fallout continues from his shock martial law decree last month. Then, we’ll continue our coverage of the security preparations going into President-elect Donald Trump’s upcoming inauguration, particularly in light of a threat assessment warning about the myriad risks facing the event, including from Iran. To listen to the show ad-free, become a premium member of The President’s Daily Brief by visiting PDBPremium.com. Please remember to subscribe if you enjoyed this episode of The President's Daily Brief. YouTube: youtube.com/@presidentsdailybrief Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Full Episode
Hey there, Mike Baker checking in. I'm still deep in the deserts of Saudi Arabia and Jordan. We're making solid progress, thanks to the camels and a terrific support team. Meanwhile, Mike Slater is filling in to make sure you stay informed. And don't forget, stay safe and cool.
Thanks, Mike. It's Wednesday, 15 January 2025. Welcome back to the PDB Afternoon Bulletin. I'm Mike Slater from Politics by Faith and SiriusXM Patriot. Let's get briefed. Today, we'll begin in South Korea, where impeached President Yoon Suk-yool has been arrested as the fallout continues from his shock martial law decree last month. Do you remember that?
Later in the show, we'll continue our coverage of the security preparations going into President-elect Donald Trump's upcoming inauguration on Monday, particularly in light of a threat assessment warning about the myriad risks facing the event, including for Iran. But first, today's afternoon spotlight.
South Korea's impeached president, Yook Sool-yoon, was arrested Wednesday after an hours-long standoff at his fortified presidential residence, marking a historic turn in the country's ongoing political crisis. Yoon, the first sitting South Korean president to be detained, declared martial law last month in a controversial bid to counter what he described as a, quote, anti-state opposition.
His brief imposition of martial law, which deployed troops around parliament, was overturned by lawmakers who later voted to impeach him on 14 December, stripping him of his presidential powers. Yoon's arrest followed weeks of political turmoil and his refusal to leave the presidential compound in Seoul.
The operation to detain Yoon involved over 1,000 officers from the National Police Agency and the Corruption Investigation Office for high-ranking officials who led the raid against Yoon's presidential security forces. After hours of standoff, officers breached the compound using wire cutters and ladders to scale barricades. Yoon was escorted from the residence in a convoy of black SUVs.
His departure was met with chants from hundreds of his supporters condemning the detention as unlawful. Yoon was questioned for over 10 hours at the CIO headquarters before being transferred to a detention center near Seoul.
The charges against him, stemming from his martial law declaration, include rebellion, a grave offense under South Korean law that carries possibility of life imprisonment or even the death penalty. The CIO now has 48 hours to request a court order for Yoon's formal arrest. Without it, he must be released. Should the order be granted, prosecutors will have up to 20 days to prepare an indictment.
In a video recorded before his arrest, Yoon denounced the investigation, asserting that the, quote, rule of law has completely collapsed in South Korea. His legal team challenged the validity of the detention warrant, citing legal protections for military secrets, which covers the president, and questioning the CIO's jurisdiction over rebellion charges.
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