South Korean court orders formal arrest of president over martial law decree
18 January 2025, 21:54
Mr Yoon’s arrest could mark the beginning of an extended period in custody for him, lasting months or more.
South Korea’s impeached president, Yoon Suk Yeol, has been formally arrested days after being apprehended at his presidential compound in Seoul, as he faces possible imprisonment over his ill-fated declaration of martial law last month.
Mr Yoon’s arrest could mark the beginning of an extended period in custody for him, lasting months or more.
The Seoul Western District Court granted law enforcement’s request for an arrest warrant on Mr Yoon following an eight-hour deliberation, saying there was a threat of evidence being destroyed.
Mr Yoon and his lawyers on Saturday appeared before the court’s judge during a hearing and argued for his release.
Mr Yoon, who has been in detention since he was apprehended on Wednesday in a massive police operation at his residential compound, faces potential rebellion charges linked to his declaration of martial law on December 3, which set off the country’s most serious political crisis since its democratisation in the late 1980s.
The Corruption Investigation Office for High-Ranking Officials, which is leading a joint investigation with police and the military, can now extend his detention to 20 days, during which they will transfer the case to public prosecutors for indictment.
Mr Yoon’s lawyers could also file a petition to challenge the court’s arrest warrant.
Seok Dong-hyeon, one of Mr Yoon’s lawyers, called the court’s decision to issue the warrant “the epitome of anti-constitutionalism and anti-rule of law,” maintaining the president’s claim that his martial law decree was a legitimate act of governance.
He pointed to the chaos at the Seoul Western Court and said Mr Yoon’s arrest would inspire more anger from his supporters. Mr Yoon’s People Power Party regretted his arrest but also pleaded for his supporters to refrain from further violence.
The liberal opposition Democratic Party, which drove the legislative effort to impeach Mr Yoon on December 14, said his arrest would be a “cornerstone for restoring the collapsed constitutional order.”
Mr Yoon was transported to the court from a detention centre in Uiwang, near Seoul, in a blue Justice Ministry van escorted by police and the presidential security service, to attend the hearing at the court ahead of its warrant decision.
The motorcade entered the court’s basement parking space as thousands of Mr Yoon’s supporters gathered in nearby streets amid a heavy police presence.
Following the hearing, Mr Yoon was transported back to the detention centre, where he awaited the decision. He did not speak to reporters.
After its investigators were attacked by protesters later on Saturday, the anti-corruption agency asked media companies to obscure the faces of its members attending the hearing.
