Seoul: South Korea’s joint investigation unit has filed a request for an arrest warrant against suspended President Yoon Suk Yeol, citing allegations of insurrection related to his brief imposition of martial law earlier this month, an official stated on Monday.
Yoon has repeatedly ignored summonses for questioning by police and the Corruption Investigation Office for High-Ranking Officials, which are jointly probing whether his declaration of martial law on December 3 constituted an act of insurrection.
This marks the first instance in South Korea’s history where an arrest warrant has been sought for a sitting president. The Seoul court will now evaluate the request to decide on issuing the warrant.
Insurrection is one of the few charges that override presidential immunity in South Korea.
Legal Dispute Over Jurisdiction
Yoon Kab-keun, a lawyer representing the suspended president, argued that the anti-corruption agency lacks the jurisdiction to investigate insurrection-related allegations. “This matter is beyond their authority,” Yoon Kab-keun told Yonhap News Agency. He has yet to respond to Reuters’ requests for comment.
Political Crisis
President Yoon was suspended from his duties earlier this month after being impeached by parliament over his controversial decision to impose martial law. The short-lived decree shocked the nation and drew sharp criticism from international allies, including the United States, as well as South Korea’s economic partners.
On the day martial law was declared, armed troops wearing masks and equipped with rifles, body armor, and night-vision devices stormed parliament. The troops clashed with staffers who resisted them with fire extinguishers. However, the declaration was swiftly overturned when parliament voted against it, prompting Yoon to withdraw the decree after just a few hours.
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The incident has raised concerns about the strength of democracy in South Korea, a country that transitioned to democratic governance in the 1980s after decades of authoritarian rule.
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Constitutional Court Proceedings
The Constitutional Court is now deliberating whether to reinstate Yoon or permanently remove him from office. It has up to 180 days to make a ruling.
During the first preparatory hearing on Friday, the court denied a request by Yoon’s legal team to postpone proceedings, emphasizing the urgency of the case. The next hearing is scheduled for January 3.
