South Korea’s Constitutional Crisis: Arrest Warrant Issued for Sitting President Yoon Suk Yeol

In a historic first for South Korea, an arrest warrant has been issued for a sitting president.

A court has issued an arrest warrant for South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol, who is facing an investigation into allegations that he led an insurrection is underway. A search warrant has also been granted to locate the president.

This marks an unprecedented event in South Korea’s constitutional history. A sitting president has never before faced such legal action. The court’s decision to approve the arrest and search warrants is a groundbreaking moment for the country.

On Tuesday, the Seoul Western District Court announced it had issued the arrest and search warrants for Yoon, as requested by the Corruption Investigation Office for High-Ranking Officials (CIO). The Court has jurisdiction over the area in Yongsan, where Yoon’s official residence is located.

The court’s decision appears to stem from Yoon’s failure to respond to three summonses from the joint investigation task force (JITF): the CIO, the police, and the Ministry of National Defense’s investigative unit.

Yoon did not provide any justification for his failure to appear.

The joint investigation team is now preparing to execute the arrest warrant. Armed with the search warrant, they are authorized to enter the president’s residence in Hannam-dong, Yongsan District, and carry out an arrest following the search.

However, the Presidential Security Service may attempt to block the arrest, raising the possibility of a physical confrontation during the operation.

Police believe the Presidential Security Service has no legal basis for refusing to execute the arrest and search warrants.

However, it remains unclear whether authorities will attempt to forcibly enter the residence or employ other measures to carry out the operation.

After Yoon’s arrest, the joint investigation team plans to interrogate him about his alleged role as the rebellion’s ringleader. The team is expected to request a detention warrant within 48 hours. If granted, Yoon could be detained for up to 20 days before formal charges are filed.