South Korea: Arrest warrant issued against suspended head of state Yoon

An arrest warrant has been issued against suspended South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol in connection with the investigation into the brief declaration of martial law. The responsible court granted a corresponding application on Tuesday morning, said the joint investigative committee. Yoon’s lawyer called the arrest warrant “illegal and invalid.” The suspended president had previously been summoned for questioning three times, but refused to appear each time – including at the most recent appointment on Sunday.

The public prosecutor’s office and a joint team from the police, defense ministry and anti-corruption agency are investigating Yoon. This is intended to examine the circumstances of the controversial declaration of martial law.

In addition to the arrest warrant, the court also issued a search warrant. The arrest warrant is valid until January 6th, said a representative of the anti-corruption agency.

Yoon’s lawyer Yoon Kab Keun called the arrest warrant and search warrant “illegal and invalid.” They were “issued at the request of an authority without investigative powers,” he told the AFP news agency.

It is unclear whether the arrest warrant can be executed. Yoon’s security detail had previously refused to comply with three search warrants. According to local media reports, Yoon’s arrest or search of his residence is not imminent, as investigators will first try to coordinate with the suspended president’s security service.

In view of a budget dispute, Yoon surprisingly made use of the declaration of martial law on December 3rd, thereby alarming both at home and abroad. However, the opposition-dominated parliament used its veto power in a dramatic session, whereupon Yoon lifted martial law after a few hours. On December 14, Parliament voted to remove the president, who has since been suspended from office. The Constitutional Court ultimately decides on possible impeachment.

The public prosecutor’s office made serious allegations against the president: According to a ten-page report seen by the AFP news agency, Yoon is said to have ordered the military to use weapons if necessary to enable the storming of parliament. Yoon’s lawyer denied the contents of the document.

The brief declaration of martial law plunged South Korea into its worst political crisis in decades. Tensions worsened further last week when parliament voted to also remove Yoon’s successor, interim President Han Duck Soo. The opposition had requested the vote on the grounds that Han had refused to complete Yoon’s impeachment process. Finance Minister Choi Sang Mok took Hans’ place.