South Korea is seeing yet more political fallout from a short-lived martial law decree by impeached President Yoon Suk Yeol earlier in December. South Korean investigators announced on Monday, Dec. 30, they are seeking an arrest warrant for Yoon.
Yoon has repeatedly denied requests from law enforcement to appear for questioning over his martial law declaration. Authorities say they have requested the warrant on charges of abuse of power and for leading an insurrection.
Yoon’s legal team denies the charges, arguing that “an incumbent president cannot be prosecuted for abuse of power.”
South Korea’s National Assembly overwhelmingly voted in favor of impeaching Yoon on Dec. 14.
Yoon has been suspended from office since the National Assembly’s impeachment vote but has vowed to “fight until the last moment.” He claims he never meant to disrupt the “constitutional order” when he sent hundreds of troops to the National Assembly on Dec. 3.
Now, South Korea’s Constitutional Court must decide whether or not Yoon should be removed from office. If the court decides to oust Yoon, an election will need to take place within 60 days of the ruling. A majority of South Koreans reportedly believe that the declaration of martial law by Yoon was inexcusable.
