• South Korea's President Yoon Suk Yeol has been detained following his historic arrest amid allegations of insurrection.
• Yoon faces an imminent court hearing where authorities are expected to request an extension of his detention for up to 20 days.
• The impeached leader claims investigations into his actions during a brief martial law declaration are politically motivated.
• Despite the tumultuous political landscape, Yoon's support remains amidst ongoing opposition protests.
• The Constitutional Court is currently reviewing Yoon's impeachment, which could further affect his political future.

South Korea’s political landscape has been shaken by the unprecedented detention of President Yoon Suk Yeol, who made history as the first sitting leader to be arrested. Following a chaotic attempt to impose martial law on December 3, which was swiftly rejected by parliament, Yoon was apprehended by investigators armed with an arrest warrant executed during a raid on his residence. Despite undergoing roughly ten hours of questioning initially, Yoon has since refused to cooperate with further investigations, leading his legal team to assert that the president has already presented his position regarding the claims against him. According to his attorney, Seok Dong-hyeon, Yoon has “sufficiently expressed his basic stance” and sees no reason to continue questioning [(source)](https://www.theguardian.com/world/2025/jan/17/yoon-suk-yeol-south-korea-president-jailed-impeachment-updates).

Authorities are expected to submit a request to extend Yoon’s detention by up to 20 days, pending a court review that must take place before the weekend deadline [(source)](https://apnews.com/article/south-korea-yoon-arrest-warrant-martial-law-57fcd2d8d98ea1d64f59d237c65a0b9a). Should the court grant this extension, it would afford investigators additional time to formalize charges against Yoon, who could face severe allegations of insurrection related to his controversial martial law declaration—a move that significantly escalated political tensions in the nation [(source)](https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2025/1/17/south-koreas-yoon-refuses-questioning-as-authorities-seek-longer-detention).

Yoon's declaration, aimed at quelling perceived "anti-state elements," swiftly descended into utter political chaos, failing in a mere six hours after lawmakers pushed back against the military incursion aimed at halting their proceedings. As a result of this power struggle, Yoon was impeached by the National Assembly on December 14, prompting an investigation by the Corruption Investigation Office for High-ranking Officials [(source)](http://reuters.com/world/asia-pacific/it-starts-now-south-koreas-president-yoon-defiant-police-closed-2025-01-17/). The fallout from Yoon's arrest has ignited opposition celebrations, which see his detainment as a pivotal stride towards re-establishing constitutional order in South Korea. According to opposition leaders, this situation exemplifies the need to uphold legal integrity that has been jeopardized during Yoon's leadership [(source)](https://www.voanews.com/a/south-korea-s-yoon-refuses-questioning-as-deadline-looms-on-detention-/7940189.html).

Despite the serious allegations, recent polls such as a Gallup Korea survey have reflected a notable rebound in support for Yoon's People Power Party, which gained a marginal lead over the Democratic Party amidst public discourse regarding the legitimacy of the investigations and ongoing political strife. Yoon's loyal followers continue to protest on his behalf, asserting that his arrest is part of a politically charged agenda against him [(source)](https://www.voanews.com/a/south-korea-s-yoon-refuses-questioning-as-deadline-looms-on-detention-/7940189.html).

The political ramifications for Yoon remain precarious as the Constitutional Court deliberates on his impeachment. Should the court uphold the impeachment, Yoon could be ousted from power, triggering new elections within a designated timeframe. This ongoing trial has evoked significant interest and critical scrutiny, as much hinges on the outcomes of these intertwined legal and political challenges faced by the president [(source)](https://apnews.com/article/south-korea-yoon-arrest-warrant-martial-law-57fcd2d8d98ea1d64f59d237c65a0b9a).