A joint investigation team announced that it would seek an arrest warrant for South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol following his short-lived declaration of martial law earlier this month, after he ignored three prior summonses for questioning.
The joint investigative unit, comprising the Korean National Police Agency’s National Office of Investigation, the Corruption Investigation Office for High-ranking Officials (CIO), and the Criminal Investigation Command of the Defense Ministry, filed the request with the Seoul Western District Court at midnight on Sunday.
Investigators stated that Yoon faces allegations of insurrection and abuse of power linked to his declaration of martial law on Dec. 3. Yoon has denied these allegations, claiming that his martial law declaration was not an act of insurrection but a “governance act” intended to warn parliament against abusing legislative power.
This marks the first time in South Korea’s constitutional history that an arrest warrant has been requested for a sitting president.
While former presidents such as Roh Tae-woo, Chun Doo-hwan, Park Geun-hye, and Lee Myung-bak have been arrested in the past, investigations began only after they left office.
Under Article 84 of the Constitution, sitting presidents are immune to criminal prosecution except for cases of insurrection or treason. Since insurrection charges are explicitly excluded from this immunity, Yoon’s case is subject to legal investigation and prosecution.
