SEOUL – A South Korean court has approved an arrest warrant for President Yoon Suk Yeol on December 31 following his impeachment by the National Assembly and suspension from duties over his declaration of martial law on December 3.
The Corruption Investigation Office for High-ranking Officials (CIO) confirmed that the Seoul Western District Court approved the warrant at the request of investigators probing the president’s declaration of martial law. The law, which was enforced for only a few hours before being revoked, has led to an unprecedented move—this is the first time an arrest warrant has been issued for a sitting South Korean president.
According to South Korea’s Yonhap News Agency, the warrant will remain valid until January 6. If President Yoon is arrested under this warrant, he is expected to be detained at a holding facility in Seoul. However, the timing and method of his arrest remain unclear. The CIO also revealed that the court had approved a search warrant for President Yoon’s residence, following an unsuccessful police attempt to search the property, which was blocked by presidential security personnel.
President Yoon is under criminal investigation for alleged rebellion linked to his martial law declaration. Rebellion is one of the few charges for which South Korean presidents are not granted immunity. (TNA)
