A South Korean court has approved an arrest warrant for President Yoon Suk Yeol, marking the first time a sitting president has faced such action. The warrant follows President Yoon's controversial decision to declare martial law, which has triggered significant political upheaval in the nation.
The Seoul Western District Court granted the warrant on Tuesday, acting on charges of abuse of authority and orchestrating a rebellion. This move comes after the Corruption Investigation Office (CIO) stated that Yoon had declined to cooperate with multiple summons for questioning. He is now being sought for inquiries, including accusations of leading an insurrection, a crime that carries severe penalties.
Following a parliament vote earlier this month to impeach him, Yoon was stripped of his presidential powers. This action came after members of his own party turned against him after his refusal to resign following his martial law decree in December. The arrest warrant was requested by law enforcement officials on Monday, marking a significant escalation in the investigation.
President Yoon's legal team has denounced the warrant as "illegal and invalid." They are contesting the authority of the CIO and claiming the process was not transparent. According to the CIO, an arrest warrant must be executed within seven days, although this period can be extended.
Yoon has remained largely out of the public eye as the Constitutional Court reviews his impeachment. The court’s first pretrial hearing took place on December 27. Although Yoon’s presence is not required, the process to decide whether he is formally removed from office or reinstated could take six months.
Adding further complication to the proceedings, the nine-member court is currently operating with six justices due to vacancies. While the court has pledged to handle the case as a “top priority”, it has not yet decided if the six justices alone can determine Yoon's fate. However, for his removal to be approved, all six justices would have to vote in favour of impeachment.
South Korea's political landscape was further destabilized after parliament impeached acting president Han Duck-soo for delaying the appointment of the three vacant court positions. Finance Minister Choi Sang-mok has now assumed the acting presidential role amid political crisis and one of the deadliest aviation disaster in almost three decades.