South Korea’s Yoon Suk Yeol faces renewed arrest bid over martial law scandal

SEOUL: South Korean anti-corruption investigators are awaiting the approval of a new arrest warrant for impeached President Yoon Suk Yeol, whose controversial martial law decree last month has plunged the nation into political turmoil. Yoon, a former prosecutor-turned-president, has faced intense scrutiny after he failed to implement a martial law order, triggering a crisis that has left the country on edge.

Yoon has defied questioning three times over the failed decree and remains holed up in his residence, surrounded by hundreds of security personnel preventing his arrest. Authorities are hopeful that a Seoul court will approve a new arrest warrant after the original order expired last week.

On Monday, the Corruption Investigation Office (CIO) refiled the warrant request with the Seoul Western District Court, asking for an extension to detain Yoon. However, investigators declined to reveal the duration of the new warrant they are seeking.

CIO deputy director Lee Jae-seung expressed confidence before the warrant was refiled that the court would likely approve the extension, calling the chance of denial “very low.” Still, by Tuesday morning, there had been no confirmation from the court or investigators regarding the approval of the new warrant.

Yoon faces serious charges of “insurrection” related to the martial law decree. If convicted, he could face a lengthy prison sentence or, in the most extreme case, the death penalty. His arrest would mark a historic moment, as he would become the first sitting president in South Korea’s history to be arrested.

The former prosecutor’s legal team has denounced the initial arrest warrant as “unlawful” and “illegal,” and they have vowed to pursue further legal action against the charges.

Impeachment Trial Looms

The South Korean Constitutional Court has set January 14 as the date for Yoon’s impeachment trial, which will proceed even if he does not attend. The court has up to 180 days to decide whether to remove him from office or restore his presidential powers. Yoon’s predecessors, Presidents Roh Moo-hyun and Park Geun-hye, both faced impeachment proceedings in 2004 and 2016 but did not appear for their respective trials.

Tensions at Yoon’s Residence

Efforts to arrest Yoon have been hindered by a heavy security presence around his residence. On Monday, investigators were forced into a standoff lasting several hours, as hundreds of presidential guards blocked their path. Tensions rose further as dozens of lawmakers from Yoon’s People Power Party gathered outside his residence, and police blocked roads leading to the area. Supporters of Yoon also camped out, braving freezing temperatures to show their solidarity.

Despite the intense atmosphere in the previous days, the streets outside Yoon’s residence were relatively calm by Tuesday morning. The lack of an active arrest warrant appeared to have subdued the protests, although tensions remain high as the situation continues to unfold.