Court issues arrest warrant for impeached President Yoon

A South Korean court has issued an arrest warrant for suspended President Yoon Suk Yeol, officials announced on Tuesday.

The embattled leader faces accusations of insurrection stemming from his controversial and short-lived attempt to impose martial law, which plunged the country into its worst political crisis in decades.

On December 3, Yoon temporarily suspended civilian governance, prompting widespread condemnation. Parliament subsequently impeached him, stripping him of his presidential powers, although a constitutional court ruling is still pending on whether to uphold the impeachment.

“The arrest warrant and search warrant were issued this morning,” the Joint Investigation Headquarters confirmed in a statement. Investigators allege Yoon’s actions constitute insurrection, a charge that could result in life imprisonment or even death penalty.

The warrant was requested after Yoon failed to appear for questioning three times. “There is a concern that the individual may refuse to comply with the summons without justifiable reasons,” an official from the Corruption Investigation Office stated.

Authorities cited “sufficient probable cause” for the charges and announced the warrant’s validity until January 6, with Yoon likely to be detained at the Seoul detention center.

Yoon’s legal team fiercely criticized the warrant as unlawful. “The arrest warrant and search and seizure warrant issued at the request of an agency without investigative authority are illegal and invalid,” his lawyer, Yoon Kab-keun, argued in a statement to AFP.

He added that his client had no intention of disrupting constitutional order or orchestrating an uprising. The defense plans to seek a court injunction to nullify the warrant

The probe also expanded on Tuesday, with investigators raiding the military’s Counterintelligence Command offices. Two senior commanders were indicted on charges related to insurrection and abuse of authority

The situation has sparked intense public reactions. By mid-afternoon, hundreds of Yoon’s supporters had gathered outside his residence, waving South Korean flags and chanting slogans such as “Martial law is legal! Impeachment invalid!”

Police have been deployed in large numbers, and demonstrators have also been urged to maintain order, with protest organizers estimating that up to 3,000 participants might join the rally.