Arrest Warrant Issued For Impeached President

A South Korean court approved an arrest warrant for President Yoon Suk Yeol, who has been impeached and suspended after he plunged the country into chaos by declaring martial law.

According to reports, this is the first time a sitting South Korean president has faced an arrest warrant.

The Corruption Investigation Office for High-Ranking Officials (CIO) confirmed it requested the warrant from the Seoul Western District Court.

Just in: Arrest warrant issued for former South Korean President Yoon who declared martial law pic.twitter.com/kS9nDHLkkO

— The Calvin Coolidge Project (@TheCalvinCooli1) December 31, 2024

Per CNN:

Yoon was stripped of his presidential powers after South Korea’s parliament voted to impeach him earlier this month after some members of his own ruling party turned on him following his refusal to resign over the December 3 decree.

South Korea’s anti-corruption agency said the Seoul Western District Court granted the warrant Tuesday for Yoon on charges of abuse of authority and orchestrating a rebellion.

The arrest warrant was issued after Yoon, a former prosecutor, had refused to answer three summonses by investigators in recent weeks asking for his cooperation, according to the Corruption Investigation Office (CIO).

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Yoon is wanted for questioning in multiple investigations, including accusations of leading an insurrection – a crime punishable by life imprisonment or even the death penalty.

SEOUL—A South Korean court on Tuesday approved an arrest warrant for President Yoon Suk Yeol, who has been impeached and suspended from power over his decision to impose martial law on Dec. 3, investigating authorities said. pic.twitter.com/37I9XDLIEE

— The Epoch Times (@EpochTimes) December 31, 2024

BREAKING: South Korean court issues warrant to arrest impeached President Yoonhttps://t.co/147LU42YsC

— Nikkei Asia (@NikkeiAsia) December 31, 2024

Reuters reports:

The current arrest warrant is viable until Jan. 6, and once it is exercised, Yoon is expected to be held at the Seoul Detention Center, Yonhap news agency said citing CIO.

The court issued the warrant due to the likelihood that Yoon will not respond to summons without a justifiable reason, and there being a substantial reason to suspect Yoon of a crime, Yonhap said. The court declined to comment.

Yoon has failed to respond to investigators’ summons for questioning three times since the Dec. 3 martial law declaration.

Yoon is facing criminal investigation on allegations that he was the leader of an insurrection. Insurrection is one of the few charges for which a South Korean president does not have immunity.

It was unclear when or how the arrest warrant for Yoon will be carried out. South Korea’s presidential security service said in a statement on Tuesday that it will treat the arrest warrant according to due process.

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