South Korean investigators on Tuesday announced that a court has issued an arrest warrant for suspended and impeached President Yoon Suk Yeol in connection with his brief attempt to declare martial law in the country.
The Seoul court issued an arrest warrant for Yoon Suk Yeol after investigators sought charges of insurrection and abuse of power.
“The arrest warrant and search warrant for President Yoon Suk Yeol, requested by the Joint Investigation Headquarters, were issued this morning,” the statement said.
“No schedule has been set for future proceedings,” it added.
Investigators pursuing charges against Yoon Suk Yeol for his martial law declaration requested an arrest warrant on Monday after the suspended president failed to appear for questioning for the third time.
Yoon’s brief suspension of civilian rule earlier this month triggered South Korea’s most severe political crisis in decades. Parliament subsequently stripped him of his presidential duties, and a constitutional court is yet to decide on finalising his impeachment.
The conservative leader also faces charges of insurrection, which could lead to life imprisonment or even the death penalty.
The court issued the arrest warrant approximately 33 hours after it was filed, reportedly the “longest time in history for a warrant hearing,” suggesting extensive deliberation on the matter.
Despite the warrant’s issuance, its enforcement remains uncertain. The presidential security service has previously blocked three search warrants.
Yoon Suk Yeol is under investigation by prosecutors and a joint task force that includes police, defence ministry, and anti-corruption officials.
On December 3, Yoon declared martial law in a sudden televised address, citing a need to eliminate “anti-state elements.” In response, lawmakers swiftly convened in parliament and voted to overturn the declaration within minutes.
According to a prosecution indictment report, Yoon instructed the capital defence command chief, Lee Jin-woo, that military forces could use lethal force if necessary to gain entry to the National Assembly. The report also revealed evidence that Yoon had been discussing the possibility of martial law with senior military officials as far back as March.
South Korea’s political crisis intensified last week when Han Duck-soo, Yoon’s interim replacement, was also impeached by parliament for failing to approve legislation to investigate Yoon.
Finance minister Choi Sang-mok has since stepped in as acting president. His tenure began under tragic circumstances with the Jeju Air plane crash on Sunday, which resulted in 179 fatalities.
