South Korean court issues arrest warrant for suspended President Yoon over martial law attempt

Seoul (The Uttam Hindu): South Korean investigators announced that a court has issued an arrest warrant for suspended President Yoon Suk Yeol, following his brief attempt to declare martial law in the country. The warrant, which was issued after the Joint Investigation Headquarters requested charges of insurrection and abuse of power, was confirmed by the Seoul court. Yoon's failure to appear for questioning for the third time led to investigators requesting the arrest.

This development came after his suspension of civilian rule earlier this month, which triggered South Korea's worst political crisis in decades. Parliament moved to strip Yoon of his presidential duties, and the constitutional court is still reviewing his impeachment. The charges of insurrection carry severe penalties, including life imprisonment or even the death penalty. The court took approximately 33 hours to issue the warrant, marking the longest deliberation time in history for a warrant hearing, indicating the complexity of the case. While the arrest warrant has been issued, it remains uncertain whether it will be enforced, as the presidential security service has previously blocked three search warrants. Yoon is currently under investigation by a joint task force that includes police, the defense ministry, and anti-corruption officials.

On December 3, Yoon declared martial law in a sudden televised address, citing the need to eliminate "anti-state elements." In response, lawmakers quickly overturned the declaration in parliament. Investigations revealed that Yoon had instructed the chief of the capital defense command to use lethal force if necessary to gain entry to the National Assembly. Yoon had reportedly been discussing the possibility of martial law with senior military officials as far back as March. The political crisis escalated further when Han Duck-soo, Yoon’s interim replacement, was impeached for failing to approve legislation to investigate Yoon. Finance Minister Choi Sang-mok has now stepped in as acting president, starting his tenure under tragic circumstances following a deadly plane crash that claimed 179 lives.