Special counsel seeks arrest warrant for ex-president over martial law bid
Former President Yoon Suk Yeol leaves the Seoul High Prosecutors’ Office in Seoul, Sunday, after undergoing a second round of questioning by a special counsel team led by Cho Eung-suk over alleged insurrection charges. Yonhap
Korea’s special prosecutor on Sunday requested an arrest warrant for former President Yoon Suk Yeol in relation to his declaration of emergency martial law in December 2024. Investigators suggest the actions could constitute insurrection and obstruction of justice.
The high-stakes decision by Special Counsel Cho Eun-suk’s team comes less than three weeks after launching a probe into the so-called “12/3 Emergency Decree” scandal. The impeached president stands accused of orchestrating efforts to impose martial law to quell nationwide unrest, allegedly violating several laws, including abuse of power and falsifying official documents.
“We filed for a warrant at 5:20 p.m. today with the Seoul Central District Court,” Deputy Special Prosecutor Park Ji-young said during a press briefing.
Details of the charges and the length of the filing were not disclosed.
“We will provide sufficient explanation through the legal process,” Park added, declining to elaborate ahead of a court hearing.
The investigation has intensified in recent weeks, with several of Yoon’s former aides — including ex-Defense Minister Kim Yong-hyun and former military intelligence chiefs — arrested on related charges. Prosecutors say Yoon denied all accusations during two prior in-person interrogations, fueling concerns of potential collusion with his alleged coconspirators and the destruction of evidence.
Yoon faces charges including obstruction of official duties, violation of the Presidential Security Act and abuse of authority. A key allegation is that he used the Presidential Security Service to prevent investigators from executing an arrest warrant on him in January. He is also accused of ordering the deletion of classified communication records on Dec. 7, 2024, just days after his short-lived martial law declaration.
Another charge involves manipulating attendance at a Cabinet meeting to secure a quorum for martial law approval, allegedly sidelining ministers such as Education Minister Lee Ju-ho. Prosecutors also accuse Yoon of authorizing a falsified version of the martial law decree to rectify legal flaws in the original document.
While prosecutors have been building a case for other alleged crimes, including Yoon's directive to have a military drone unit simulate suspicious North Korean activity, those charges were not included in Sunday’s warrant.
Park said investigations into those charges “are ongoing, and substantial material remains under review.”
The court is expected to hold a detention hearing on Tuesday. If the warrant is granted, Yoon could face imprisonment just four months after his release in March, when a previous detention order was canceled.
The investigation, which began on June 12, has quickly escalated, with investigators interviewing high-ranking officials from Yoon’s administration, including former Prime Minister Han Duck-soo and senior presidential aides.