South Korea issues new arrest warrant for impeached president Yoon

On December 7, South Korea’s anti-corruption investigators obtained a fresh court-ordered arrest warrant for impeached President Yoon Suk Yeol, whose failed martial law decree has thrown the nation into its worst political crisis in decades.

The Joint Investigation Headquarters confirmed, "The arrest warrant re-requested for the suspect Yoon was issued today in the afternoon," Caliber.Az reports, citing foreign media. 

This development follows Yoon’s repeated refusals to cooperate with questioning after the December 3 decree that sparked widespread unrest.

Despite the new warrant, Yoon remains protected by hundreds of security guards at his presidential residence in Seoul. The Corruption Investigation Office (CIO), which leads the probe, faces significant challenges in executing the order.

CIO chief Oh Dong-woon apologized for the initial failed attempt to detain Yoon on January 3. “I must express my sincere apologies to the public for the failure to execute the arrest warrant due to the security measures taken by the Presidential Security Service,” he said, addressing lawmakers at the National Assembly.

Yoon’s lawyers continue to challenge the legality of the investigation, asserting that the CIO lacks jurisdiction over insurrection charges. "The initial warrant was unlawful," Yoon’s legal team stated, pledging to pursue further legal action.

The arrest warrant places South Korea in uncharted territory. If detained, Yoon would become the first sitting South Korean president to face arrest. However, investigators would have only 48 hours to either seek an extension or release him.

“Yoon’s residence is turning into a fortress,” said opposition Democratic Party lawmaker Youn Kun-young, highlighting the installation of barbed wire and vehicle barricades around the premises.

Hundreds of Yoon’s supporters have also camped outside the residence, braving freezing weather. "We’re here to protect our president from this unjust persecution," one supporter told local media.

Meanwhile, investigators have shifted their focus to top military officials involved in the controversial martial law plan, as direct access to Yoon remains elusive.

South Korea’s Constitutional Court has scheduled Yoon’s impeachment trial to begin on January 14. The court could take up to 180 days to decide whether to dismiss or reinstate him. Opposition lawmakers criticized acting President Choi Sang-mok for failing to intervene, filing a legal complaint against him for “dereliction of duty.”

Political analysts describe the situation as a significant test for the country’s democratic institutions. "This is an unprecedented moment for South Korea. Regardless of the outcome, it will set a lasting precedent for how the nation handles crises of this magnitude," said Yun Bok-nam, president of Lawyers for a Democratic Society.

Yoon has yet to confirm whether he will attend the impeachment trial’s opening session. His lawyer told AFP the decision was “undecided,” though local reports suggest he may appear.

For now, South Korea remains deeply divided. While some call for Yoon’s immediate arrest and prosecution, others see him as a victim of political manoeuvring. The CIO, still a fledgling agency with fewer than 100 staff, faces mounting pressure to deliver results.

By Aghakazim Guliyev