A South Korean court on Tuesday approved an arrest warrant for President Yoon Suk Yeol, marking the first time a sitting president of the country has faced such legal action.
Yoon, whose controversial declaration of martial law on Dec. 3 plunged the nation into political turmoil, was impeached earlier this month by parliament, which included members of his own party.
The Seoul Western District Court issued the order on charges of abuse of authority and orchestrating rebellion, South Korea's anti-graft agency confirmed.
According to the Corruption Investigation Office (CIO), the decision came after Yoon's repeated refusal to comply with investigative subpoenas. He is wanted for questioning on multiple charges, including leading an insurrection, a charge that carries the possibility of life in prison or the death penalty.
President Yoon's legal advisor Yoon Kab-keun sharply criticized the order, saying, “It is an order request from an agency that is clearly not authorized by law, and the order request process was not transparent.” The order must be executed within seven days, although an extension is possible, the CIO said.
Yoon's dismissal is currently being reviewed by South Korea's Constitutional Court, which began pre-trial hearings on December 27.
Although the president was absent from the initial hearing, his attendance is not mandatory. The court, which operates with only six justices instead of the usual nine due to unfilled vacancies, faces a significant challenge in deciding whether it has the authority to rule with a small court. For the impeachment to be confirmed, a unanimous vote of the six judges would be needed.
Amid this political uncertainty, Yoon has avoided public appearances, while senior officials in his administration face similar accusations. Acting President Han Duck-soo, who took over Yoon's duties after his ouster, was also impeached by parliament last Friday for his delay in filling vacant seats on the Constitutional Court. Han defended his actions and urged bipartisan agreement on the appointments.