Rulings from the South Korean Constitutional Court

Seoul Court Issues Arrest Warrant for President Yoon on Rebellion Charges

Dec 30, 2024, 03:17 PM

A South Korean court has issued an arrest warrant for impeached and suspended President Yoon Suk Yeol. The warrant, issued on December 31, 2024, by the Seoul Western District Court, follows allegations of insurrection, rebellion, and abuse of power related to his short-lived declaration of martial law on December 3. Yoon, who was impeached by the National Assembly on December 14, is accused of attempting to use the military to block a parliamentary vote against his decision. This marks the first time in South Korea's history that an arrest warrant has been issued for a sitting president. Yoon has denied the charges, claiming his actions were a governance measure aimed at addressing opposition in the legislature. The investigation is being led by the Joint Investigation Headquarters, which also secured a search warrant for the presidential residence.