South Korean investigators have requested an arrest warrant for suspended President Yoon Suk Yeol over his controversial declaration of martial law. The Joint Investigation Headquarters confirmed on Monday that the application was filed with the Seoul Western District Court after Yoon failed to appear for questioning.
This marks an unprecedented attempt to detain a sitting president in South Korea’s constitutional history. Yoon, who was impeached by parliament earlier this month and temporarily stripped of his presidential duties, now awaits a Constitutional Court decision on whether the impeachment will be upheld.
The martial law declaration and subsequent impeachment plunged South Korea into its worst political crisis in decades. The turmoil escalated when Acting President Han Duck-soo was also impeached last week for failing to approve bills for investigating Yoon’s actions.
Despite being summoned three times for questioning, Yoon has refused to cooperate, including ignoring a final deadline on Sunday. The former prosecutor now faces criminal charges of insurrection, which carry severe penalties, including life imprisonment or the death penalty.
Investigators, including prosecutors and officials from the police, defence ministry, and anti-corruption agencies, are examining Yoon’s role in authorising martial law. A 10-page prosecutors’ report obtained by AFP alleges that Yoon instructed the military to use weapons if necessary to enter parliament during the failed martial law bid.
Yoon’s declaration of martial law and the subsequent impeachment have sparked a deep political divide in South Korea. His conservative leadership, already polarising, now faces intense scrutiny as the country navigates a constitutional crisis.
The case also raises questions about the limits of presidential power and the role of the judiciary in holding leaders accountable. As the Constitutional Court deliberates, South Korea braces for the outcome of what could be a landmark decision in its democratic history.
