A Seoul court has issued an arrest warrant for South Korea’s suspended president, Yoon Suk Yeol, over his attempt to impose martial law on 3rd of December.
Yoon faces charges of insurrection and abuse of power after ignoring three summonses for questioning in the past two weeks.
The political crisis deepened as Yoon became the first sitting South Korean president to face an arrest warrant. Investigators have until 6th of January to execute the warrant, with the possibility of an extension.
However, executing the warrant may prove challenging due to resistance from Yoon’s security team and supporters, who have previously blocked such attempts.
South Korea has been in turmoil since Yoon’s martial law declaration and subsequent suspension from presidential duties following a parliamentary impeachment vote on 14th of December. He can only be removed from office if the Constitutional Court upholds the impeachment, but with only six judges currently on the nine-member bench, a single rejection will allow Yoon to remain in office.
Opposition lawmakers’ efforts to appoint three additional judges to strengthen their case were vetoed by acting Prime Minister Han Duck-soo, prompting his impeachment as well. The opposition is now threatening similar action against Finance Minister Choi Sang-mok, who serves as acting president and prime minister.
Yoon, who is banned from leaving the country, has defended his martial law declaration as constitutional and vowed to “fight to the end” while accepting his legal responsibilities. His lawyer, Yun Gap-geun, described the arrest warrant as “illegal,” citing “legitimate concerns” for Yoon’s non-compliance with the summonses.
