Investigators detained impeached President Yoon Suk Yeol at his residence on Wednesday in their second attempt to take him into custody for questioning over his short-lived imposition of martial law in South Korea, reports Yonhap News Agency.

A warrant to detain Yoon was executed at 10:33am local time, according to the Corruption Investigation Office for High-ranking Officials (CIO), marking the first time a sitting president has been arrested.

A convoy of vehicles carrying Yoon left the presidential residence compound in central Seoul shortly afterward to head to the CIO office in Gwacheon, just south of Seoul.

Yoon was seen stepping out of a car and entering the office to undergo questioning before investigators seek a warrant to formally arrest him within 48 hours.

Yoon, who is suspended from duty following his impeachment by the National Assembly on December 14, faces charges of insurrection and abuse of power.

He is accused of sending troops to the National Assembly after declaring martial law on the night of December 3 to stop lawmakers from voting down the decree.

The arrest followed hours of talks between investigators and Yoon's side at his residence over how to detain him and take him away for questioning.

Investigators used ladders to enter the presidential residence compound after being blocked by the PSS, which set up a barricade using vehicles near the entrance. They were also blocked by a group of lawmakers from the ruling People Power Party and Yoon's lawyers at the entrance.

Some investigators appeared to attempt to secure access to the compound through a nearby hiking trail.

Investigators' first attempt to detain Yoon failed early this month after an hours’ long standoff with his security staff at the residence.

The Seoul Western District Court had issued warrants to search the presidential residence and detain Yoon after he snubbed three summonses from investigators to appear for questioning.

The warrants, which were granted extensions last week after they expired, were valid until January 21.