South Korea arrests impeached President Yoon Suk Yeol

South Korean authorities have arrested President Yoon Suk Yeol, who faces charges of insurrection following an attempt to impose martial law, BBC reports.

Yoon is now at the Corruption Investigation Office (CIO) - he said he agreed to the interrogation "even though it is an illegal investigation, in order to prevent any unsavoury bloodshed."

Authorities served the warrant after an hours-long standoff with his security staff and supporters, which saw investigators using ladders and wirecutters to enter Yoon's residence.

Yoon had been holed up for weeks - investigators tried to arrest him earlier this month but failed.

This marks the first time in South Korea's history that a sitting president has been arrested.

Yoon's impeachment trial, which will decide if he is removed from office, started yesterday but ended within four minutes because of his absence.