Dec 30, 2024 - Politics & Policy

South Korea court issues arrest warrant for impeached President Yoon

Rebecca Falconer

In this handout photo provided by the South Korean Presidential Office, South Korean President Yoon Suk-Yeol speaks to the nation at the Presidential Office on December 07, 2024 in Seoul, South Korea. — South Korea's suspended President Yoon Suk-Yeol at the Presidential Office in Seoul earlier this month. Photo: South Korean Presidential Office via Getty Images

A South Korean court approved an arrest warrant for impeached President Yoon Suk-Yeol on Tuesday morning local time, Yonhap News Agency first reported.

Why it matters: The warrant related to Yoon's brief martial law declaration this month that sparked widespread protests and shocked allies would mark the first time one has been issued for an incumbent president in South Korea, per local media.

Driving the news: The Corruption Investigation Office for High-ranking Officials confirmed in a media statement that Seoul Western District Court had approved the warrant.

The big picture: Yoon was impeached and suspended from presidential duties for his surprise martial law declaration, but he maintains he acted out of concerns about "pro-North Korean" elements when he made the emergency declaration.

South Korean police announced earlier this month they were investigating Yoon for possible insurrection and he has, through his lawyers, denied the allegations.
Yoon could face life in prison or the death penalty if he were charged and convicted of such offenses because presidential immunity doesn't extend to insurrection or treason in South Korea.

Go deeper: South Korean president hit with travel ban after martial law mayhem

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South Korea court issues arrest warrant for impeached President Yoon

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