A South Korea A court approved arrest warrants on Tuesday to arrest accused President Yoon Suk Yeol and search his office and residence during a criminal investigation into his martial law order earlier this month.
The move is the first time a sitting president has faced arrest and follows intense weeks political turmoil South Korea, the fourth largest economy in Asia and an important ally of the US. The country is also dealing with the fatal Jeju Air plane crash that killed 179 people on Sunday.
The Western Seoul District Court issued a warrant to arrest Yoon and search the presidential office and residence in central Seoul, according to a statement from the Corruption Investigation Bureau for Senior Officials, which is leading a joint investigation with police and military commanders.
A South Korean court approved an arrest warrant on Tuesday for the indicted President Yoon Suk Yeol. (AP Photo/Lee Jin-man)
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The agency said it has been investigating whether Yoon's Dec. 3 announcement was treasonous, and he has been suspended.
Under South Korean law, a rebel leader can be sentenced to death or life in prison if convicted.
It's unclear when officials will proceed with the warrants, and the president's lawyer said the warrants are “empty” and “illegal.” His whereabouts are not publicly known, and he is banned from leaving the country.
Yoon has presidential immunity from most criminal charges, but that privilege does not extend to charges of rebellion or sedition.
According to the law, the president of South Korea is only allowed to declare martial law during times of war or similar emergencies and does not have the right to suspend parliament even under martial law.
Yoon suddenly imposed martial law and vowed to eliminate “anti-state” forces after struggling to pass his demands through the opposition-dominated parliament. However, martial law was in effect for only about six hours since National Assembly he chose to cancel the president's decision.
The country is also dealing with the fatal Jeju Air plane crash that killed 179 people on Sunday. (AP Photo/Ahn Young-joon)
After that, the legislators sent motion to impeach the president regarding his declaration of martial law, and the leader of the People Power Party, Han Dong-hun, criticized the declaration of martial law as “unconstitutional.”
After declaring martial law, Yoon sent hundreds of soldiers and police to parliament to try to disrupt its vote on the decree before withdrawing after parliament refused. No major violence occurred but public protests grew both in opposition to and in support of Yoon.
The National Assembly voted to impeach him on December 14, where hundreds of soldiers and police were brought to the meeting.
Prime Minister Han Duck-soo, who replaced Yoon as acting president, is also being impeached by parliament after he failed to fill three of the nine-member justice seats. the constitutional court. Yoon can only be removed from office if his accusation is upheld by the court.
Experts say adding more judges could increase the chances of Yoon's impeachment as it requires the support of six judges. Yoon's next Constitutional Court hearing is scheduled for Friday.
Former South Korean President Choi Sang-mok lays a wreath for the victims of the plane that veered off the runway and burst into flames at the memorial altar at the Muan sport park in Muan, South Korea, on December 30, 2024. (AP Photo/Ahn Young-joon)
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Kim Yong-hyun, who resigned as Yoon's defense minister after playing a major role in martial law, has been arrested and charged Friday with sedition and abuse of power.
New acting president Choi Sang-mok on Monday presided over a meeting of a team investigating the Jeju Air disaster. The Boeing 737-800 landed without its front gear, overshot the runway, and crashed. concrete fence and burst into flames.
The Associated Press and Reuters contributed to this report.