Politics Court approves arrest of South Korea's president
A court in South Korea has approved a request to arrest suspended President Yoon Suk Yeol after he ignored three summonses from the authorities.
31.12.2024, 03:21
SDA
This was reported by the official news agency Yonhap. The prosecution, which is investigating Yoon for abuse of power and sedition, had previously submitted a corresponding request. Yoon could thus become the first president of the country to be arrested while in office. It was initially unclear when this could happen.
According to Yonhap, an arrest order is usually valid for one week. Once Yoon is in custody, investigators have 48 hours to question him and decide whether to apply for an arrest warrant or release him. The court also reportedly authorized the search of Yoon's presidential residence.
However, it is questionable whether law enforcement will be able to enforce the arrest, as the presidential security service had previously blocked access to the grounds of Yoon's official residence. Yoon's defense lawyers had questioned whether the corruption investigators had the authority to investigate sedition.
Missed subpoenas
The president had previously ignored three subpoenas from the Corruption Investigation Bureau for questioning in the case of his brief declaration of martial law earlier this month. Yoon is under investigation for surprisingly imposing martial law in early December amid a budget dispute and then lifting it hours later.
South Korea has been in a serious national crisis ever since. Former Finance Minister and Vice Prime Minister Choi Sang Mok is currently in temporary charge of state affairs.
Yoon defends action
The National Assembly voted in favor of Yoon's impeachment in mid-December. The Constitutional Court has begun proceedings and is now examining whether the parliament's decision was unconstitutional or in accordance with the constitution. Yoon recently defended his controversial decision on the grounds that he had declared martial law to protect the nation. The opposition accuses him of breaking the constitution.
