South Korea’s impeached President Yoon Suk Yeol was arrested on Wednesday in a large police operation, with the embattled leader defiantly insisting an investigation into him is illegal and he only complied to prevent violence.
His arrest, the first for an incumbent president, is the latest episode of turmoil for one of Asia's most vibrant democracies, which has a history of prosecuting and imprisoning former leaders.
In a video message recorded before he was escorted to the headquarters of South Korea's anti-corruption agency, Mr Yoon said the “rule of law has completely collapsed in this country”.
The operation to arrest Mr Yoon involved about 3,000 police officers after he had been holed up for weeks at his residence in Seoul while vowing to “fight to the end” against efforts to oust him. He had been guarded by a small army of personal security that blocked a previous arrest attempt.
The saga began on December 3 when Mr Yoon declared martial law for the first time in 44 years, saying it was needed to tackle “anti-state” opposition using their legislative majority to thwart his political agenda. He deployed troops around the National Assembly but legislators managed to get through the blockade and vote to lift the measure.
His declaration shocked South Koreans, rattled Asia's fourth largest economy and started an unprecedented period of political turmoil.
Parliament impeached Mr Yoon on December 14 over the martial law attempt and his presidential powers were suspended. The Constitutional Court is deliberating on whether to uphold that impeachment and permanently remove him from office or restore his powers.
Wednesday's arrest attempt began before dawn, with hundreds of thousands of South Koreans watching live feeds showing bus loads of police arriving near the presidential residence, pushing past Mr Yoon's supporters and walking towards the gates carrying ladders and wire cutters.
Anti-corruption investigators and police officers engaged in an hours-long standoff at the compound’s gate with presidential security forces but otherwise encountered no meaningful resistance.
Some police officers used ladders to climb over rows of buses placed by the presidential security service near the compound’s entrance. Despite a court warrant for Mr Yoon’s detention, the presidential security service had insisted it was obligated to protect him.
Anti-graft officials said Mr Yoon was brought into custody about five hours after investigators arrived at the presidential compound and about three hours after they successfully entered his residence.
A convoy of black SUVs, some equipped with sirens, were seen leaving the compound with police escorts. Mr Yoon was later seen stepping out of a vehicle after arriving at the agency’s office in the nearby city of Gwacheon. He was expected to be sent to a detention centre in Uiwang, near Seoul.
The president was being held for questioning on Wednesday afternoon but was refusing to talk, an anti-corruption official told Reuters. Mr Yoon could be kept in custody for weeks. The anti-graft agency, which is leading a joint investigation with police and the military over whether the martial law declaration amounted to an attempted rebellion, has 48 hours to request a court order for a formal arrest. If it fails to do so, Mr Yoon will be released.
Mr Yoon’s lawyers have claimed that a detainment warrant issued by a Seoul court was invalid. They said the anti-corruption agency had no legal authority to investigate rebellion allegations.
“I am truly appalled to see illegalities upon illegalities upon illegalities being carried out and procedures being forcefully conducted under an invalid warrant,” Mr Yoon said in the video. “My decision to comply with such illegal and invalid procedures is not an acknowledgement of them, but rather a willingness to prevent unfortunate and bloody incidents.”
South Korea’s acting leader, Deputy Prime Minister Choi Sang-mok, on Wednesday urged law enforcement and the presidential security service to ensure there were no “physical clashes”.
Park Chan-dae, floor leader of the liberal opposition Democratic Party, which drove the legislative campaign that led to Mr Yoon’s impeachment on December 14, said his detention was the “first step towards restoring constitutional order, democracy and realising the rule of law”.
The Constitutional Court held its first formal hearing on the impeachment case on Tuesday, but the session lasted less than five minutes because Mr Yoon refused to attend. The next hearing is set for Thursday, and the court will then proceed with the trial whether or not Mr Yoon is there.
Minor scuffles broke out between pro-Yoon protesters and police near the presidential residence on Wednesday, a Reuters reporter said. Throngs of those protesters had gathered before dawn in sub-zero temperatures.
“It is very sad to see our country falling apart,” said Kim Woo-sub, 70, who was protesting against Mr Yoon's arrest.
- With agencies
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Gender equality in the workplace still 200 years away
It will take centuries to achieve gender parity in workplaces around the globe, according to a December report from the World Economic Forum.
The WEF study said there had been some improvements in wage equality in 2018 compared to 2017, when the global gender gap widened for the first time in a decade.
But it warned that these were offset by declining representation of women in politics, coupled with greater inequality in their access to health and education.
At current rates, the global gender gap across a range of areas will not close for another 108 years, while it is expected to take 202 years to close the workplace gap, WEF found.
The Geneva-based organisation's annual report tracked disparities between the sexes in 149 countries across four areas: education, health, economic opportunity and political empowerment.
After years of advances in education, health and political representation, women registered setbacks in all three areas this year, WEF said.
Only in the area of economic opportunity did the gender gap narrow somewhat, although there is not much to celebrate, with the global wage gap narrowing to nearly 51 per cent.
And the number of women in leadership roles has risen to 34 per cent globally, WEF said.
At the same time, the report showed there are now proportionately fewer women than men participating in the workforce, suggesting that automation is having a disproportionate impact on jobs traditionally performed by women.
And women are significantly under-represented in growing areas of employment that require science, technology, engineering and mathematics skills, WEF said.
* Agence France Presse
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Killing of Qassem Suleimani
MATCH INFO
Maratha Arabians 107-8 (10 ovs)
Lyth 21, Lynn 20, McClenaghan 20 no
Qalandars 60-4 (10 ovs)
Malan 32 no, McClenaghan 2-9
Maratha Arabians win by 47 runs
Lexus LX700h specs
Engine: 3.4-litre twin-turbo V6 plus supplementary electric motor
Power: 464hp at 5,200rpm
Torque: 790Nm from 2,000-3,600rpm
Transmission: 10-speed auto
Fuel consumption: 11.7L/100km
On sale: Now
Price: From Dh590,000
The specs: 2018 Maxus T60
Price, base / as tested: Dh48,000
Engine: 2.4-litre four-cylinder
Power: 136hp @ 1,600rpm
Torque: 360Nm @ 1,600 rpm
Transmission: Five-speed manual
Fuel consumption, combined: 9.1L / 100km
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Company name: Nybl
Date started: November 2018
Founder: Noor Alnahhas, Michael LeTan, Hafsa Yazdni, Sufyaan Abdul Haseeb, Waleed Rifaat, Mohammed Shono
Based: Dubai, UAE
Sector: Software Technology / Artificial Intelligence
Initial investment: $500,000
Funding round: Series B (raising $5m)
Partners/Incubators: Dubai Future Accelerators Cohort 4, Dubai Future Accelerators Cohort 6, AI Venture Labs Cohort 1, Microsoft Scale-up
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5.30pm: Maiden (PA) Dh 70,000 (D) 1,600m
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6pm: Maiden (PA) Dh 70,000 (D) 1,800m
Winner: Sharkh, Patrick Cosgrave, Helal Al Alawi
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History's medical milestones
1799 - First small pox vaccine administered
1846 - First public demonstration of anaesthesia in surgery
1861 - Louis Pasteur published his germ theory which proved that bacteria caused diseases
1895 - Discovery of x-rays
1923 - Heart valve surgery performed successfully for first time
1928 - Alexander Fleming discovers penicillin
1953 - Structure of DNA discovered
1952 - First organ transplant - a kidney - takes place
1954 - Clinical trials of birth control pill
1979 - MRI, or magnetic resonance imaging, scanned used to diagnose illness and injury.
1998 - The first adult live-donor liver transplant is carried out
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- Individuals must register on UAE Drone app or website using their UAE Pass
- Add all their personal details, including name, nationality, passport number, Emiratis ID, email and phone number
- Upload the training certificate from a centre accredited by the GCAA
- Submit their request
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- Fly it within visual line of sight
- Never over populated areas
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- Users must avoid flying over restricted areas listed on the UAE Drone app
- Only fly the drone during the day, and never at night
- Should have a live feed of the drone flight
- Drones must weigh 5 kg or less
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Credit Score explained
What is a credit score?
In the UAE your credit score is a number generated by the Al Etihad Credit Bureau (AECB), which represents your credit worthiness – in other words, your risk of defaulting on any debt repayments. In this country, the number is between 300 and 900. A low score indicates a higher risk of default, while a high score indicates you are a lower risk.
Why is it important?
Financial institutions will use it to decide whether or not you are a credit risk. Those with better scores may also receive preferential interest rates or terms on products such as loans, credit cards and mortgages.
How is it calculated?
The AECB collects information on your payment behaviour from banks as well as utilitiy and telecoms providers.
How can I improve my score?
By paying your bills on time and not missing any repayments, particularly your loan, credit card and mortgage payments. It is also wise to limit the number of credit card and loan applications you make and to reduce your outstanding balances.
How do I know if my score is low or high?
By checking it. Visit one of AECB’s Customer Happiness Centres with an original and valid Emirates ID, passport copy and valid email address. Liv. customers can also access the score directly from the banking app.
How much does it cost?
A credit report costs Dh100 while a report with the score included costs Dh150. Those only wanting the credit score pay Dh60. VAT is payable on top.
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