He was arrested and taken to a prison in the capital, Seoul, after a court accepted a warrant request by prosecutors, who suspected that the former President broke the law.

Following his arrest, he became the second former president after Park Geun-hye to be imprisoned within the past year.

Lee, 76, said that it was all his fault.

He served as the President from 2008 to 2013.

In a handwritten statement posted on Facebook shortly before his arrest, Lee said, "I consider all this my own fault and feel remorse."

He is expected to be hit with over a dozen charges.

Last year, former President Park Geun-hye arrested following her impeachment on bribery and other criminal charges.

Lee became the fourth former South Korean President to court arrest.

Lee Image: Gobierno de Chile/Wikipedia