SEOUL. The Seoul Western District Court has approved an arrest warrant for South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol, marking the first time in the country’s history that a sitting president faces detention. The court’s decision, announced on Tuesday, stems from allegations surrounding Yoon’s controversial and short-lived imposition of martial law.
The Corruption Investigation Office for High-ranking Officials (CIO), which requested the warrant, is probing allegations that Yoon led an insurrection — a charge that strips South Korean presidents of their usual immunity. Separately, Yoon’s impeachment trial is ongoing at the Constitutional Court, further intensifying the political turmoil in Asia’s fourth-largest economy.
The arrest warrant, valid until January 6, permits investigators to detain Yoon for 48 hours, during which they must decide whether to formally request a detention warrant or release him. If detained, Yoon is expected to be held at the Seoul Detention Center, according to Yonhap News Agency.
Yoon Kab-keun, the president’s lawyer, described the arrest warrant as “illegal and invalid,” asserting that the CIO lacks the legal authority to request such a warrant. “We will file an injunction at the Constitutional Court to stop the execution of this warrant,” Yoon’s legal team stated.
Hundreds of Yoon’s supporters gathered outside his residence on Tuesday, protesting the warrant. Some clashed with police as tensions escalated.
The investigation centers on Yoon’s December 3 declaration of martial law, the first in South Korea since the 1980s. The decree aimed to ban political activity and censor the media, but it faced immediate backlash. That night, troops stormed the National Assembly building in Seoul, only to retreat after parliamentary aides used fire extinguishers to repel them. Lawmakers swiftly rejected the martial law order, forcing Yoon to rescind it within hours.
Although Yoon survived an initial impeachment attempt, a subsequent vote on December 14, bolstered by members of his own party, led to his suspension from office. Prime Minister Han Duck-soo assumed the role of acting president but was impeached shortly after for declining to approve justices nominated by parliament for the Constitutional Court.
Finance Minister Choi Sang-mok, who now serves as acting president, is grappling with multiple crises, including Sunday’s Jeju Air flight disaster, which claimed 179 lives in South Korea’s deadliest aviation accident.
Meanwhile, investigators continue to expand their probe into Yoon’s martial law decree. Raids have been conducted on army counterintelligence offices, and three top defense officials have been indicted, including former Defense Minister Kim Yong-hyun, who faces charges of insurrection and abuse of power. Kim’s trial is set to begin on January 16.
Opposition lawmakers have called for swift action, with Democratic Party member Kim Yong-min urging investigators to “immediately execute the warrants.” However, Kweon Seong-dong, acting leader of the ruling People Power Party, criticized the move, stating, “Attempting to detain a sitting president is inappropriate.”
The execution of the arrest warrant remains uncertain, with the Presidential Security Service stating it will handle the matter “in accordance with due process.” A search warrant for Yoon’s residence has also been approved, signaling further escalation in the investigation.
The next hearing in Yoon’s impeachment trial at the Constitutional Court is scheduled for Friday, a crucial moment that could determine the embattled president’s fate.
South Korea now faces a critical juncture, with political instability threatening to overshadow its role as a key U.S. ally and economic powerhouse. As the nation watches events unfold, calls for national unity and trust in government grow louder. “The country is in an unprecedentedly serious situation,” acting President Choi said in his New Year’s address.
This arrest warrant marks a defining moment in South Korea’s democratic history, raising questions about the balance of power, accountability, and the future of the presidency.
Si Venus L Peñaflor ay naging editor-in-chief ng Newsworld, isang lokal na pahayagan ng Laguna. Publisher din siya ng Daystar Gazette at Tutubi News Magazine. Siya ay isa ring pintor at doll face designer ng Ninay Dolls, ang unang Manikang Pilipino. Kasali siya sa DesignCrowd sa rank na #305 sa 640,000 graphic designers sa buong daigdig. Kasama din siya sa unang Local TV Broadcast sa Laguna na Beyond Manila. Aktibong kasapi siya ng San Pablo Jaycees Senate bilang isang JCI Senator.
