South Korea authorities seek arrest of Yoon over martial law declaration

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Joint investigation unit requests arrest warrant for suspended president over brief imposition of martial law.

South Korean authorities have requested an arrest warrant for suspended President Yoon Suk-yeol over his short-lived declaration of martial law.

South Korea’s Corruption Investigation Office for High-Ranking Officials said on Monday that it sought Yoon’s arrest on insurrection and abuse of power charges after the impeached leader ignored three summonses to appear for questioning.

A court will decide whether to issue a warrant following the request.

Yoon’s brief imposition of martial law on December 4 stunned South Korea, plunging the East Asian nation into its biggest political crisis in decades.

Yoon, who served as the country’s top-ranking prosecutor before entering politics, has been suspended from his duties since December 14, when the National Assembly voted for his impeachment in a 204-85 vote.

The Constitutional Court of Korea is deliberating whether to uphold the impeachment motion and remove Yoon from office, a process that could take up to six months.

At its first preparatory hearing on Friday, the court denied a request by Yoon’s lawyers for a postponement in proceedings to allow the South Korean leader to better prepare his case.