South Korean President Yoon Suk-Yeol addresses the nation at the Office of the President on December 14, 2024 in Seoul, South Korea.
Office of the President of South Korea | News from Getty Images | Getty Images
Domestic media report that impeached South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol could become the country's first sitting president to face arrest after a court order was issued against him.
The Western District Court of Seoul issued an arrest warrant for Yoon, Korea Times he informed, after him he didn't show up for the hearingdespite repeated subpoenas from a joint investigation unit consisting of the South Korean Police and the Corruption Investigation Bureau for high-level officials.
The order authorizes the CIO to detain Yoon within 48 hours for questioning.
This is according to Yoon Kab-keun, a lawyer for the incumbent president he said that investigating allegations of insurrection is outside the CIO's jurisdiction. According to the news agency, citing security reasons, the Presidential Security Service blocked access to the presidential office complex and Yoon's official residence Yonhap.
South Korea's presidents do not enjoy immunity from charges of insurrection and treason. Moreover, according to CIO chief Oh Dong-woon, presidents are not allowed to obstruct a court's issuance of an arrest or detention order.
Yoon faces related charges declaration introducing a state of emergency martial law on December 3, which he justified as necessary to protect the constitution. He lifted martial law within six hours of the National Assembly meeting voted annul his decree.
On December 14, lawmakers impeached Yoon, and members of his People's Power Party voted in favor of the motion. Early voting had lost achieve a two-thirds majority.
As reported, South Korea's Constitutional Court has initiated proceedings to decide whether to remove Yoon from office or reinstate him. Yonhap. It will issue a ruling within 180 days, starting on December 14.
Although impeachment suspends Yoon from his duties and powers as head of state, he remains president while his case is heard by the Constitutional Court.
After Yoon's impeachment, Prime Minister Han Duck-soo took over as president.
But so was Han questioned last week. He was accused by the opposition Democratic Party of being reluctant to immediately appoint three judges to the Constitutional Tribunal.
Chio Sang-mok, deputy prime minister and finance minister, became acting president on December 27 after Han's impeachment.
— CNBC's Ruxandra Iordache and Hakyung Kim contributed to this report.
Correction: An earlier version of this report misspelled the name of South Korea's president.