South Korea’s impeached president, Yoon Suk Yeol, was detained in a major law enforcement operation at the presidential compound Wednesday, defiantly insisting the anti-corruption agency didn’t have the authority to investigate his actions but saying he complied to prevent violence.

Hundreds of officers push past Yoon’s small army of personal security to take the impeached leader into custody.

South Korea's impeached President Yoon Suk Yeol was arrested on Wednesday as part of an investigation into alleged insurrection and in between being questioned the suspended leader is expected to be held in a solitary cell at a detention centre.