South Korean anti-graft investigators secured a new court-ordered arrest warrant on Tuesday, January 7, for impeached President Yoon Suk Yeol, whose failed martial law attempt triggered the country’s worst political crisis in decades.
Yoon, a former prosecutor, has evaded questioning three times since issuing the martial law decree on December 3, staying in his residence under heavy guard to prevent his arrest.
“The arrest warrant for suspect Yoon was re-requested and issued today in the afternoon,” announced the Joint Investigation Headquarters. The Corruption Investigation Office (CIO), which is leading the investigation, has not disclosed the duration of the new warrant, as the initial seven-day warrant had expired. Seoul Western District Court declined to comment when contacted by AFP.
If arrested, Yoon would become the first sitting South Korean president to be detained. Investigators would have just 48 hours to either request a new warrant or release him. Anti-graft officials have asked for more time and resources due to the security forces obstructing their first attempt to arrest Yoon at his residence last Friday.
Yoon faces charges of insurrection, and if arrested and convicted, he could face imprisonment or, in the worst case, the death penalty. His legal team has called the initial warrant “unlawful” and vowed to take further legal action, arguing that the CIO does not have the authority to investigate insurrection, as it is not listed among its designated offences.
The situation has plunged South Korea into unprecedented political turmoil—whether Yoon is arrested or manages to avoid detention, the outcome will be historic. CIO chief Oh Dong-woon expressed regret over the failed arrest attempt, apologizing to the public for the failure to execute the warrant due to the security measures by the Presidential Security Service. Yoon’s guards had refused to stand down during a six-hour standoff on Friday.
The CIO, established less than four years ago with fewer than 100 staff, has never prosecuted a case. “Naturally, they have no experience with arrests, let alone something as significant as arresting the president,” said Yun Bok-Nam, president of Lawyers for a Democratic Society, who is not involved in the investigation.
Meanwhile, South Korea’s opposition Democratic Party has filed a legal complaint against acting president Choi Sang-mok for “dereliction of duty” after he failed to intervene as requested. The Constitutional Court has scheduled January 14 for the start of Yoon’s impeachment trial, which will proceed in his absence if he does not attend. While local media have suggested that Yoon will appear on the opening day, his lawyer told AFP that his attendance is still “undecided.”
The court has up to 180 days to decide whether to remove or reinstate Yoon as president. Opposition lawmaker Youn Kun-young has described Yoon’s residence as becoming a “fortress,” with guards reportedly setting up barbed wire and vehicle barricades. Many of Yoon’s supporters have also gathered outside his residence despite the freezing temperatures.
Although investigators have yet to arrest Yoon, they have targeted senior military officials involved in the martial law plan.
