A South Korean court has issued an arrest warrant for impeached President Yoon Suk-yeol, citing his aborted martial law decree earlier this month.
The Corruption Investigative Office for High-Ranking Officials announced that Seoul’s Western District Court approved warrants to detain Yoon and search his office. The agency is probing whether the martial law declaration constituted rebellion.
Yoon’s presidential powers have been suspended since December 14, following his impeachment by the opposition-controlled National Assembly. The Constitutional Court is now tasked with deciding whether to dismiss or reinstate him. During this period, Yoon has repeatedly refused to appear for questioning and has blocked investigative authorities from searching his office.
Yoon, who has presidential immunity from prosecution, remains vulnerable to serious charges such as rebellion or treason. While the anti-corruption agency holds the warrants, it stated there are no immediate plans to enforce them.
Earlier, Yoon’s legal team sought to challenge the detention warrant, claiming the agency lacked jurisdiction to investigate allegations of rebellion. However, they offered no details on their broader strategy to counter the court’s decision.
The martial law, which Yoon described as a “legitimate act of governance,” lasted only six hours before being rescinded. Yoon defended the decree, claiming it was necessary to combat what he called “anti-state forces” within the opposition. The move, however, ignited widespread protests, disrupted financial markets, and halted diplomacy, further destabilizing the political landscape.
Adding to the crisis, the Democratic Party and allied opposition groups recently impeached acting President Han Duck-soo, intensifying uncertainty. Observers suggest that Han’s refusal to appoint three Constitutional Court justices might influence the court’s ultimate ruling on Yoon’s impeachment.
For now, Yoon’s future remains in the hands of the Constitutional Court, with South Korea anxiously awaiting its decision.
