Yoon Suk Yeol’s arrest warrant approved by South Korean court
A South Korean court approved an arrest warrant on Tuesday against President Yoon Suk Yeol, who had been suspended from office for imposing martial law on December 3.
This marks the first time in South Korea’s history that a sitting president has encountered such circumstances, Reuters reports.
The president stands accused of leading an insurrection, a serious crime not covered by presidential immunity. Additionally, the Constitutional Court is currently reviewing proceedings for his suspension.
The arrest warrant remains valid until January 6, and, if executed, Yoon will be detained at the Seoul Detention Center.
After Yoon’s suspension, Prime Minister Han Duck-soo stepped in as interim president, but he too was suspended by the opposition-led parliament. At present, Finance Minister Choi Sang-mok serves as acting president, overseeing the response to Sunday’s aviation tragedy, where a plane crash resulted in 179 fatalities.
Yoon has failed to appear for questioning by investigators, prompting the court to approve the arrest warrant due to concerns he might evade justice. Authorities obtained a warrant to search his residence after an earlier attempt to search the presidential office was thwarted by presidential security.
Yoon’s lawyer contested the arrest warrant, calling it illegal and announcing plans to appeal for its annulment at the Constitutional Court.
Translation by Iurie Tataru
