SEOUL: South Korean investigators have sought an arrest warrant for suspended President Yoon Suk Yeol over his short-lived imposition of martial law earlier this month, an official said on Monday (Dec 30), the first time an incumbent president has faced such action.
Yoon has failed to respond to multiple summons for questioning by police and the Corruption Investigation Office for High-ranking Officials who are jointly investigating whether his Dec 3 martial-law declaration amounted to insurrection.
Police have tried but failed to successfully raid the presidential office as part of the investigation.
A Seoul court will decide whether to issue an arrest warrant following the request.
Insurrection is one of the few charges for which a South Korean president does not have immunity.
Yoon Kab-keun, a lawyer for the suspended president, said the arrest request was “unfair” and the anti-corruption agency has no authority to do so.
“Emergency martial law is within the president’s authority,” the lawyer told reporters outside the Seoul Western District Court after submitting a written opinion about the arrest warrant request as well as a letter of appointment of lawyers.
