South Korea was plunged into chaos that the country had not seen in over 4 decades when its president, Yoon Suk Yeol, a leader who does not mind being disliked, declared martial law earlier this month, on December 3.
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A court in South Korean capital Seoul has issued an arrest warrant for country’s suspended president Yoon Suk Yeol who previously ordered the short-lived martial law in the country on December 3. Yoon and his successor both have been impeached by the country’s parliament. With issuance of the arrest warrant against him, Yoon Suk Yeol has become first sitting president in the history of South Korea to suffer such a fate. Whereabouts of the suspended president are currently unknown. He faces insurrection and treason charges.
Yoon has previously been issued summons to appear before the court. But he has ignored three such summonses. His lawyer has called these summonses ‘illegal’.
BBC has reported that the arrest warrant is valid till January 6. The investigators can even request extension of the validity period.
However, execution of the warrant is another thing altogether.
In past there have been instances in South Korea of authorities giving up attempts to arrest prominent politicians after their security teams and supporters physically blocked the police from arresting the leader.
Even in case of Yoon Suk Yeol, his security team earlier denied entry to officials who were trying to conduct search of his residence.
South Korea is in political chaos ever since Yoon ordered martial law on December 3. As his plans unravelled in a matter of hours, Yoon had to lift the martial law and apologise to the nation. He and his successor in the presidential office have both been impeached by lawmakers in South Korea’s parliament.
