SEOUL — South Korea’s anti-graft investigators are pursuing a new court-issued arrest warrant for impeached President Yoon Suk Yeol, whose controversial attempt to impose martial law has plunged the nation into political turmoil.
The former prosecutor has repeatedly refused to cooperate with investigators, declining questioning three times. He remains holed up in his residence, shielded by hundreds of guards preventing authorities from carrying out his arrest.
The Corruption Investigation Office (CIO) announced late Monday that it had refiled a request with the Seoul Western District Court to extend the arrest warrant, which had expired after its initial seven-day validity.
“The Joint Investigation Headquarters today refiled a warrant with the Seoul Western District Court to extend the arrest warrant for defendant Yoon,” the CIO said in a statement. However, it did not disclose how long the new warrant would be valid if approved.
High Stakes for Yoon
President Yoon is under investigation for charges of insurrection related to his failed martial law decree last month. If arrested and convicted, he could face severe penalties, including life imprisonment or the death penalty.
His actions have triggered South Korea’s most significant political crisis in decades. If apprehended, Yoon would be the first sitting president in the nation’s history to be arrested.
The Constitutional Court has scheduled Yoon’s impeachment trial to begin on January 14. The court will have up to 180 days to decide whether to remove him from office or reinstate his presidential powers.
Tensions Subside, For Now
Earlier attempts to arrest Yoon were thwarted by a standoff between investigators and Yoon’s security detail. A tense six-hour confrontation at his residence saw hundreds of guards and supporters blocking authorities.
Despite the intense showdown, the atmosphere outside his residence has calmed in recent days, with fewer protesters braving freezing temperatures.
While the Seoul Western District Court has not yet ruled on the new warrant, CIO deputy director Lee Jae-seung expressed confidence, saying the likelihood of denial was “very low.”
As South Korea braces for the next chapter in this unfolding political drama, the focus remains on whether investigators will secure the warrant and successfully arrest President Yoon.