Arrest warrant issued vs South Korean president; for treason over martial law declaration

A South Korean court on Tuesday issued an arrest warrant against President Yoon Suk Yeol, who was impeached on Dec. 14 for his move to impose martial law in his country.

Prior to that, Yoon defied at least four summons from investigators to appear for questioning over charges of insurrection and treason. He also apologized for the declaration of martial law.

Issued by the Seoul Western District Court on a request from the Corruption Investigation Office for High-Ranking Officials (CIO), the arrest warrant was issued over charges of masterminding the botched Dec. 3 martial law declaration, orchestrating the insurrection and abusing power, the Seoul-based Yonhap News reported.

With the arrest warrant, Yoon became the first sitting president in South Korea to face charges of insurrection and treason, emanating from his placing his entire country over martial law on the night of Dec. 3.

Investigators, including members of the police, the Defense Ministry, and the prosecution, were also authorized to search Yoon’s presidential residence in the Yongsan district of the capital.

Yoon, a trained prosecutor, has denied the accusations, calling the martial law declaration an “act of governance” meant to caution the opposition party against what he described as an abuse of legislative power.

His legal team said it “cannot accept the detention warrant,” calling it “illegal and invalid.”

It said the request for warrants was made by an investigative body with “no effective jurisdiction.”

In South Korea, the sitting president is immune from arrest except for charges such as insurrection and treason.

YONHAP PHOTO