A South Korean court has issued an arrest warrant for suspended President Yoon Seok-yul after he was accused of trying to impose martial law during a controversial and short-lived bid to consolidate power.
“The arrest warrant and search warrant for President Yoon Seok-yul, which was requested by the Joint Investigation Headquarters, was issued this morning,” the Joint Investigation Headquarters said in a statement.
“No schedule has been set for future action,” it added.
Investigators investigating Yun’s declaration of martial law requested the warrant on Monday after the suspended president failed to report for questioning for a third time.
Yun briefly suspended civilian rule this month, plunging South Korea into its worst political crisis in decades.
Parliament stripped him of his presidential duties over the action, but a decision by the Constitutional Court is pending on whether to confirm the impeachment.
The conservative leader also faces criminal charges of sedition, which could result in life imprisonment or the death penalty.
The warrant was issued nearly 33 hours after his request — which local media claim is the “longest time in history for a warrant hearing,” indicating that the court was debating the matter. Was wondering how to proceed.
Although the warrant has been issued, it is unclear whether investigators and police will be able to execute it.
The Presidential Security Service has refused to comply with the first three search warrants.
Police were deployed outside Yoon’s residence in central Seoul early Tuesday, possibly in an attempt to break up the altercation.
Yoon’s supporters and protesters have called for his ouster, both have staked his residence, with local media running images of clashes between the two camps overnight.
According to local media, an arrest or search of the presidential residence was unlikely, as investigators would likely try to liaise with the presidential security service.
Technically, anyone obstructing the execution of an arrest warrant can be arrested.
Joint investigation
Yoon is being investigated by prosecutors as well as a joint team of police, defense ministry and anti-corruption officials.
A 10-page prosecutor’s report seen by AFP said Yun had authorized the military to open arms to enter parliament during his failed martial law bid.
Yoon’s lawyer, Yoon Cub-kyun, rejected the prosecutor’s report, telling AFP that it was a “one-sided account that neither corresponds to the objective circumstances nor to common sense.”
Yun declared martial law in an unannounced televised address on December 3, saying it was aimed at eliminating “anti-state elements”.
Lawmakers rushed to parliament to reject the announcement within minutes of the announcement.
At the same time, heavily armed forces stormed the building, breaking down fences, smashing windows and landing by helicopter.
According to the prosecutor’s indictment report, Yoon told Capital Defense Command chief Lee Jin-woo that troops could open fire to enter the National Assembly if necessary.
The report also said there was evidence that Yun had been discussing the declaration of martial law with senior military officials since early March.
South Korea’s political crisis deepened late last week when Yoon’s replacement, Han Duk-soo, was also impeached by parliament for failing to sign a bill to investigate Yoon.
Finance Minister Choi Sang-mok has taken over as the new acting president, throwing himself into immediate chaos after the Jeju Air plane crash on Sunday that killed 179 people.