In a significant development on Monday, South Korea’s anti-corruption agency announced its decision to transfer the execution of an arrest warrant for impeached President Yoon Suk-yeol to the police. This move intensifies the legal proceedings against Yoon, whose presidency has been fraught with controversy since his declaration of martial law last December.
President Yoon is under criminal investigation for insurrection following his unexpected martial law declaration on December 3, which sent shockwaves throughout the nation and led to his impeachment. The arrest warrant was issued after he repeatedly failed to appear for questioning, raising tensions between his supporters and the authorities.
The National Assembly passed the impeachment motion against Yoon on December 14 last year, transferring the matter to the constitutional court. During the court’s deliberation period of up to 180 days, Yoon’s presidential powers are suspended, leaving the country in a state of political uncertainty.
Last week, an intense six-hour standoff unfolded in central Seoul when presidential guards and military forces blocked authorities from apprehending Yoon inside his compound. The confrontation highlighted the deep divisions within the country’s political landscape and the challenges facing law enforcement agencies.
With the court-ordered arrest warrant set to expire on Monday, officials from the Corruption Investigation Office (CIO) for High-ranking Officials are under pressure to act swiftly. According to local media outlet YTN, the anti-corruption agency plans to request an extension of the warrant’s execution period to ensure that the legal process can proceed.
Yoon’s legal team has denounced the arrest warrant as “unlawful” and “illegal,” vowing to pursue further legal action to challenge its validity. The unfolding situation has left many South Koreans anxiously awaiting the constitutional court’s decision and the potential implications for the nation’s political future.
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Yoon's arrest warrant set to expire Monday, execution handed to police
cgtn.com
