In a rare step in South Korean politics, the Seoul Central District Court on Thursday issued an arrest warrant for former President Yoon Suk-yeol. This marks the second time Yoon faces detention in connection with allegations tied to his declaration of martial law last December.
Special counsel Cho Eun-suk requested the warrant after unveiling five charges against Yoon, including:
- Blocking cabinet members from a crucial meeting before the December 3 martial law decree.
- Fabricating the decree document and securing signatures from then Prime Minister Han Duck-soo and then Defense Minister Kim Yong-hyun.
- Coordinating the release of misleading statements to foreign media.
- Instructing aides to hinder his initial arrest in January.
- Ordering the deletion of call records from secure government phones.
Yoon denied all charges during the emergency hearing but was escorted to the Uiwang Detention Center south of Seoul. He was first arrested in January and later released in March when a court overturned his initial detention.
This case raises questions about political accountability, the balance of power, and the lengths to which leaders might go in times of crisis. As the ROK legal process moves forward, residents and observers worldwide will be watching closely to see how rule of law shapes the future of democratic governance.
Stay tuned for updates on this developing story and join the conversation on how legal systems hold leaders to account.
Reference(s):
Court issues warrant to arrest former South Korean President Yoon
cgtn.com
