A South Korean court has issued warrants to detain impeached President Yoon Suk Yeol and search his office and residence following his brief declaration of martial law.
The country’s anti-corruption agency is investigating whether Yoon’s actions amount to rebellion, a charge that carries the possibility of life imprisonment or the death penalty under South Korean law. Despite the warrants, experts believe detention or searches are unlikely unless Yoon is formally removed from office.
The Seoul Western District Court authorized the warrants on Tuesday, allowing the Corruption Investigation Office for High-Ranking Officials, along with police and military authorities, to proceed. Yoon, whose powers were suspended after the opposition-led National Assembly impeached him on December 14, maintains presidential immunity from most criminal charges, though this does not cover allegations of rebellion or treason.
Yoon imposed martial law for six hours, deploying troops and police to Seoul, which caused political turmoil, disrupted diplomacy, and rattled financial markets. The move was overturned by lawmakers, who reconvened to annul the decree. Yoon has argued that his decision was a legitimate act to maintain order and accused the opposition Democratic Party of undermining his administration through impeachment and other actions.
Investigators have faced resistance from Yoon’s presidential security team, which has blocked attempts to search his office and residence, citing laws protecting state secrets. Yoon has also refused to appear for questioning. His lawyer dismissed the anti-corruption agency’s legal authority to pursue rebellion charges, leaving investigators uncertain about how to proceed with the warrants.
Some experts view the issuance of warrants as an effort to pressure Yoon to cooperate with investigations. Similar scenarios have occurred in the past, such as the 2017 impeachment of former President Park Geun-hye, who was eventually arrested after being removed from office.
Yoon’s martial law declaration has also implicated several top officials, including his defense minister, police chief, and military commanders, who have been arrested for their roles. Testimony from one of the commanders contradicted Yoon’s claims, stating that he ordered troops to forcibly remove lawmakers from the assembly chamber.
Meanwhile, the nation’s political crisis deepened when opposition parties impeached Acting President Han Duck-soo over his refusal to appoint three justices to the Constitutional Court, a decision that could influence the court’s ruling on Yoon’s impeachment.
Deputy Prime Minister and Finance Minister Choi Sang-mok has stepped in as interim leader during this turbulent time.
