Major Foreign Media Report 'President Yoon's Arrest' as Breaking News

Major foreign media outlets have reported the arrest of President Yoon Suk-yeol, who is accused of being the ringleader of a rebellion related to the December 3 martial law declaration, as breaking news.

Reuters reported on the 19th that the court's issuance of a warrant means that President Yoon's period of investigation under detention is extended.

AP News described the court's issuance of an arrest warrant for President Yoon as an "official arrest," marking the beginning of a long-term detention that could last several months or more. They also reported on the disturbance caused by President Yoon's supporters at the Seoul Western District Court.

Japan's Kyodo News also reported as breaking news that "the South Korean court has approved the arrest warrant for President Yoon." China's state-run Xinhua News Agency noted that "with the newly issued arrest warrant, President Yoon, who is already in custody, will have his detention period extended to 20 days from the time the arrest warrant is executed."

The New York Times, in an article from Seoul, stated, "Former prosecutor President Yoon used to put people in jail. Now, officially arrested, he is alone in jail," adding that "this change in status means that President Yoon is unlikely to be released soon."

The NYT further explained, "The new situation faced by President Yoon symbolically shows a dramatic fall from a position of honor," and "now President Yoon will wake up for a simple detention center breakfast of dumpling soup, bread, or cereal, not food prepared by aides or chefs catering to his demands. The average cost of a detention center meal is $1.20 (about 1,700 won)."

Lee Song-ryeol, Hankyung.com reporter yisr0203@hankyung.com