An unprecedented political crisis in South Korea with the impending arrest of deposed President Yeon Suk-yeol
South Korea is facing an unprecedented crisis as an arrest warrant for ousted President Yeon Suk-yul is about to be executed.
This comes against the backdrop of accusations of rebellion and misuse of power following his attempt to impose martial law early last December.
For its part, the South Korean “Yonhap” agency reported that the Office of Investigation into the Corruption of Senior Officials is expected to implement the arrest warrant for deposed President Yoon Suk-yul, today, Thursday, at the earliest.
This step comes after the Seoul Western District Court issued an arrest warrant against him on December 31, 2024.
This memorandum represents a precedent in the country’s history, as it is the first time that an arrest warrant has been issued to interrogate a sitting or deposed president. The memorandum gives the investigation office 48 hours to detain and question Yoon before submitting a request to issue a formal arrest warrant.
Since the issuance of the memorandum, the Investigation Office has been conducting consultations with the police about the method and timing of implementing the arrest warrant, amid tight security measures.
On the other hand, Yoon’s supporters gathered in front of his residence in Seoul, raising national flags and banners opposing his impeachment.
Yoon had refused to comply with the arrest warrant, calling the charges a “conspiracy by anti-state forces” and vowing to fight until the end.
For his part, his lawyer, Yoon Gab-gyun, considered the memorandum illegal, noting that the judge used two exceptional articles of the Criminal Procedure Code that grant limited authority to confiscate and search in special cases.
Legal challenges
In this context, the investigators’ attempt to enter the presidential office and the presidential residence to conduct searches was obstructed by the Presidential Security Service, which was based on security concerns related to military secrets.
But the investigation office confirmed that the agency’s lack of cooperation may be considered an abuse of power and obstruction of justice.
It is noteworthy that this crisis began on December 3, when the President of South Korea suddenly announced the imposition of martial law, which sparked widespread protests and criticism from the opposition.
Although he retracted the decision and issued a public apology, Parliament voted to remove him.
