A South Korean court has issued an unprecedented arrest warrant for impeached President Yoon Suk-yeol, marking a historic moment as he becomes the first sitting president in the country to face such legal action. The Seoul Western District Court authorized the warrant on December 31, 2024, following Yoon's controversial declaration of martial law on December 3, which has led to allegations of insurrection and abuse of power.
The Corruption Investigation Office (CIO) stated that Yoon's martial law announcement was a significant factor in the warrant's issuance, as it raised questions about whether it constituted an act of rebellion. The court's decision came after Yoon ignored multiple summons from investigators, prompting the need for legal intervention. "The warrant was issued due to Yoon's repeated refusal to comply with investigative requests," a CIO spokesperson explained.
On December 14, the National Assembly voted to impeach Yoon, with 204 members supporting the motion and only 85 opposing it. This impeachment followed backlash from members of his own party after he declined to resign amid growing political turmoil. Since then, Yoon's presidential powers have been suspended pending a ruling from the Constitutional Court on whether he will be removed from office or reinstated.
Yoon's legal team has vehemently denied the charges against him, arguing that his martial law declaration was a legitimate act of governance aimed at preventing what he described as legislative overreach by the opposition. "We cannot accept this detention warrant; it is illegal and invalid," said a spokesperson for Yoon’s legal team. They also claimed that the CIO lacked effective jurisdiction over insurrection cases.
Despite Yoon's claims of illegitimacy regarding the investigation, the court dismissed these arguments. Under South Korean law, presidents enjoy immunity from most criminal prosecutions; however, this privilege does not extend to serious offenses such as insurrection or treason. If convicted of rebellion, Yoon could face severe penalties, including life imprisonment or even the death penalty.
The situation remains fluid as investigators are also authorized to search Yoon's office and residence in central Seoul. The presidential security service has stated it will handle the warrant according to legal protocols but did not provide further details on how they would proceed.
As this situation unfolds, all eyes are on the Constitutional Court, which is expected to make a critical decision regarding Yoon's political future in the coming weeks.
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