State crisis: arrest warrant application against South Korea’s suspended president

Investigators in South Korea have requested an arrest warrant against suspended President Yoon Suk Yeol for abuse of power and sedition. This was reported by the Yonhap news agency. Yoon had previously ignored three subpoenas from the Corruption Investigation Bureau for questioning in the case of his brief declaration of martial law earlier this month.

The authorities’ move had already been expected. Yoon is the first president to face arrest while in office. A court must now examine the application. An investigation is underway against Yoon because he unexpectedly imposed martial law in the middle of the budget dispute at the beginning of December and lifted it again hours later. Since then, South Korea has been in a serious state crisis. The current Finance Minister and Vice Prime Minister Choi Sang Mok is currently temporarily running state affairs.

The National Assembly voted to remove Yoon from office in mid-December. The Constitutional Court has begun the relevant procedure and is now examining whether Parliament’s decision was unconstitutional or compliant. Yoon recently defended his controversial decision by saying he had declared martial law to protect the nation. The opposition accuses him of violating the constitution.