South Korean Investigators Seek Arrest of Impeached President
South Korean investigators have requested an arrest warrant for President Yoon Suk Yeol, intensifying the country’s political crisis. Yoon, who was impeached by parliament earlier this month after declaring martial law, faces charges of insurrection, a crime punishable by life imprisonment or the death penalty.
The Joint Investigation Headquarters filed the arrest request with the Seoul Western District Court on Monday after Yoon ignored three summonses for questioning, including a deadline on Sunday. Investigators accuse Yoon of authorizing the military to use force to enter the National Assembly during the failed martial law bid.
In a 10-page report seen by AFP, prosecutors allege that Yoon ordered heavily armed troops to break down doors and remove lawmakers opposing the declaration, even instructing them to shoot if necessary. The report also claims Yoon had been discussing plans for martial law with senior military officials as early as March.
Yoon’s lawyers have criticized the arrest warrant as “unjustified,” arguing it violates legal protections for sitting presidents and was requested by an unauthorized agency. Yoon Kab-keun, one of the president’s lawyers, dismissed the allegations as “one-sided” and lacking evidence.
The crisis began on December 3 when Yoon declared martial law in a televised address, citing the need to eliminate “anti-state elements.” Within minutes, lawmakers convened to vote down the declaration, but military forces stormed the National Assembly in an attempt to block the session.
As investigations intensified, attempts to search Yoon’s offices were thwarted by presidential security teams, adding to the tension. The impeachment process now awaits a ruling from the Constitutional Court, which will decide whether Yoon’s suspension is permanent.
Political instability deepened when Yoon’s temporary replacement, Han Duck-soo, was impeached last week for failing to approve investigative measures against the president. Finance Minister Choi Sang-mok has assumed the role of acting president, facing immediate challenges such as the Jeju Air plane crash that claimed 179 lives.
