Impeached South Korean President President Yoon Suk YeolPhoto: AP Impeached South Korean President President Yoon Suk YeolPhoto: AP

A South Korean court issued warrant to detain impeached President Yoon Suk Yeol and search his office over his martial law decree, the anti-corruption agency said on Tuesday. This came a day after the Corruption Investigation Office for High-Ranking Officials sought the court warrant.

The arrest warrant was issued after Yoon ignored repeated requests by investigative authorities to appear for questioning and allow them to search his office.

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According to the anti-corruption agency, the officials are investigating whether his declaration of martial law amounted to rebellion. Although Yoon has the presidential privilege of immunity from criminal prosecution, but it does not extend to allegations of rebellion or treason.

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The agency said it has no immediate plans on how to proceed with the court-issued warrants. Many observers earlier doubted that authorities would forcefully detain him because of the potential for clashes with the presidential security service.

They say the security service likely won't permit searches of Yoon's office, citing a law that prohibits searches on sites with state secrets without approval from those in charge of those areas.

President Yoon impeached

South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol was impeached by the National Assembly on December 14 following his controversial declaration of martial law on December 3.

The impeachment motion passed with 204 lawmakers voting in favor. It led to an immediate suspension of Yoon from office. The prime minister, as per the Korean constitution, will assume the role of acting president in his absence.

However, the impeachment process is far from over. A trial will be conducted by the Constitutional Court, which could take several weeks. If six out of the nine judges vote to uphold the impeachment, Yoon will be permanently removed from office. In such a case, a presidential election must be held within 60 days of the ruling.

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About Martial Law in South Korea

In South Korea, the President holds the power to declare martial law in situations of extreme national emergency, such as wartime or similar crises. Martial law gives the President the right to deploy the military, suspend civil liberties, and temporarily override government agencies and courts.

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However, the constitution also empowers the National Assembly to revoke such a declaration with a majority vote, a safeguard against misuse of power. This provision was exercised immediately after Yoon’s proclamation, with lawmakers scaling walls to evade military blockades and ensure a quorum for their emergency session. The Assembly’s unanimous vote to nullify martial law demonstrated a rare moment of unity in South Korea’s polarized political landscape.

Critics argue that Yoon’s martial law declaration far exceeded constitutional limits. The impeachment motion alleges that his actions—deploying troops to surround the National Assembly and suspending political party activities—constituted a coup attempt rather than a legitimate response to a national crisis.mango win