A South Korean court has issued an arrest warrant for suspended President Yoon Suk Yeol through allegations of insurrection and his controversial bid to impose martial law earlier this month.
The Joint Investigation Headquarters confirmed the warrant’s issuance on Tuesday, stating that Yoon had repeatedly failed to appear for questioning regarding the declaration of martial law, which triggered South Korea’s most severe political crisis in decades.
Yoon was stripped of his presidential powers by parliament, and his impeachment now awaits confirmation by the constitutional court. If convicted of insurrection, Yoon faces penalties ranging from life imprisonment to the death sentence.
While the arrest warrant was issued 33 hours after its request—a record delay that reflects the court’s deliberation—executing the warrant remains uncertain. The Presidential Security Service has resisted previous search attempts, and tensions have escalated outside Yoon’s central Seoul residence, with clashes between supporters and opponents.
The crisis began on December 3 when Yoon declared martial law in an unscheduled televised address, citing the need to suppress anti-state elements. Within minutes, lawmakers voted to reject the move, but heavily armed troops stormed the National Assembly in a failed attempt to enforce the decree.
According to a 10-page prosecutors’ report, Yoon authorised the military to use lethal force if necessary to enter parliament. Evidence also suggests Yoon discussed declaring martial law with senior military officials as early as March.
Yoon’s lawyer has dismissed the allegations as a one-sided account lacking credibility.
Yoon’s interim replacement, Han Duck-soo, was impeached last week for obstructing investigations into the president, leaving Finance Minister Choi Sang-mok as the acting head of state. Choi now faces a nation grappling with political upheaval and the aftermath of a tragic Jeju Air crash that killed 179 people on Sunday.
