Official announcement from the South Korean government

South Korea's Yoon Resists Arrest Over December 3 Martial Law, Vows to Fight Until End

Jan 2, 2025, 05:15 AM

South Korea's impeached President Yoon Suk Yeol has vowed to 'fight until the end' as he resists arrest over his failed attempt to impose martial law on December 3, 2024. Yoon, who was impeached by the National Assembly on December 14, 2024, has been holed up in his official residence in Seoul for three consecutive days, defying authorities seeking to question him. The Corruption Investigation Office for High-Ranking Officials (CIO) has until January 6, 2025, to execute an arrest warrant issued by a Seoul court. Yoon's legal team has filed for an injunction to block the warrant, arguing it is 'unlawful and invalid.' The political crisis has deepened with the impeachment of Acting President Han Duck-soo, and Finance Minister Choi Sang-mok has been appointed as the new acting president, promising to address the political turmoil. The Constitutional Court is currently reviewing Yoon's impeachment, with a decision expected by mid-June 2025. Yoon has been watching the protests of his supporters on YouTube live streams.