SEOUL (Kyodo) -- South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol was detained Wednesday after he ignored three summonses from a joint investigation team to appear for questioning over his short-lived declaration of martial law in early December, the country's anti-corruption body said.

Yoon's detention is the first of an incumbent South Korean president.

Investigators entered Yoon's official residence in the morning and executed a warrant to detain him over the Dec. 3 declaration of martial law, having been thwarted earlier this month in a standoff with the presidential security force.

Yoon said in a video message that he had decided to cooperate to avoid bloodshed, adding that does not mean he recognizes the legitimacy of the investigation being conducted by the Corruption Investigation Office for High-ranking Officials.

A motorcade apparently transporting Yoon has arrived at the office of the anti-corruption body outside Seoul.

A joint investigation team comprising members of the anti-corruption body, the police and the Defense Ministry has been probing Yoon's imposition of martial law, which lasted six hours starting on the night of Dec. 3 before being rescinded through a vote by lawmakers.

The detention warrant was initially issued on Dec. 31 after Yoon ignored three summonses from the investigators on insurrection charges.

Yoon's presidential authority has been suspended since Dec. 14 when parliament passed an impeachment motion submitted by opposition parties who accused him of failing to meet constitutional requirements when he declared martial law.