South Korean President Yoon Seok-yeol delivers a speech to the nation at the Presidential Palace in Seoul, South Korea on December 14, 2024.
South Korean Presidential Palace | Getty Images News | Getty Images
Impeached South Korean President Yoon Seok-yeon could become the country’s first sitting president to face arrest after a court issued an arrest warrant against him, according to domestic media reports.
The Seoul Western District Court issued a detention order against Yoon. korea times According to reports, he has not appeared in court for questioning despite multiple summonses from a joint investigation unit composed of the South Korean police and the Office for the Investigation of Senior Officials’ Corruption Investigation.
The warrant authorizes the CIO to detain Yoon for questioning within 48 hours.
Yoon Gap-geun, a lawyer for the current president, said investigating the insurrection allegations does not fall within the jurisdiction of the chief information officer. According to news agencies, the Presidential Security Bureau blocked access to the Blue House and Yoon Jeong’s official residence due to security concerns. yonhap news agency.
South Korea’s president does not enjoy immunity from charges of rebellion or treason. In addition, Chief Information Officer Oh Dong-woon stated that the president may not obstruct a detention or arrest warrant issued by the court.
Yoon faces charges related to his declaration of emergency martial law on December 3, which he argued was necessary to protect the constitution. He lifted martial law within six hours after the National Assembly voted to overturn his decree.
Yoon was impeached by lawmakers on December 14, with members of his People’s Power Party voting in favor of the motion. An earlier vote fell short of a two-thirds majority.
South Korea’s Constitutional Court has reportedly begun proceedings to determine whether to remove or reinstate Yoon. yonhap news agency. It will rule within 180 days from December 14.
While impeachment suspended Yoon’s duties and powers as head of state, he remains president while the Constitutional Court considers his case.
After Yoon Eun-hye was impeached, Prime Minister Han Deok-soo took over as president.
However, Han was also impeached last week. The opposition Democratic Party accused him of being unwilling to immediately appoint three Constitutional Court judges.
After President South Korea was impeached, Vice Prime Minister and Finance Minister Cho Sang-mok took office as acting president on December 27.
—CNBC’s Ruxandra Iordache and Hakyung Kim contributed to this report.
About The Author
