Arrest warrant hearing for ex-PPP floor leader over martial law role to be held next week

Rep. Choo Kyung-ho of the main opposition People Power Party speaks ahead of a parliamentary vote on a motion for his arrest at the National Assembly in western Seoul, Thursday. Yonhap

An arrest warrant hearing for People Power Party (PPP) Rep. Choo Kyung-ho over his alleged role in former President Yoon Suk Yeol's failed imposition of martial law will be held next week, a court said Friday.

The hearing will be held at 3 p.m. Tuesday to determine whether Choo's arrest is warranted on charges of playing a key role in an insurrection, the Seoul Central District Court said.

The charge is related to allegations Choo, then floor leader of the PPP, obstructed his party's lawmakers from taking part in a parliamentary vote to lift the martial law decree after it was imposed on Dec. 3.

The National Assembly approved a motion for his arrest Thursday. By law, sitting lawmakers are immune from arrest while parliament is in session and can only be put under arrest with consent from the Assembly.

Choo, once considered a key ally of Yoon, is accused of deliberately and repeatedly changing the venue of an emergency party meeting on the night of Dec. 3 at the request of the then president.