South Korea: Prosecutors Seek Arrest of Military Officials, Issue Second Summons to Impeached President Yoon

Dec 15, 2024, 10:24 AM

South Korean prosecutors have issued an arrest warrant for Lieutenant General Lee Jin-woo, head of the Capital Defense Command, as part of an investigation into a martial law plot allegedly led by impeached President Yoon Suk Yeol. Lee Jin-woo has been detained since Friday and is accused of involvement in the failed attempt to impose martial law on December 3. President Yoon, who has been accused of treason, did not comply with a summons for questioning on Sunday, citing the ongoing process of appointing lawyers as the reason for his non-attendance. Prosecutors plan to issue a second summons. The investigation has also led to the detention of other senior military officials, including Army Special Warfare Commander Kwak Jong-geun, and the former martial law commander Park An-su. The political crisis in South Korea deepened when Yoon announced the imposition of martial law on December 3, which was blocked by parliament, leading to his impeachment on December 14. The Constitutional Court now has 180 days to decide whether to uphold or overturn Yoon's impeachment.