Seoul, July 10: A South Korean court on Thursday approved the arrest of former President Yoon Suk Yeol over his brief imposition of martial law last December, marking a dramatic escalation in legal proceedings against the ousted conservative leader who now faces multiple criminal charges.
The Seoul Central District Court granted the arrest warrant early Thursday, agreeing with special prosecutors that Yoon posed a risk of destroying evidence. He was returned to a detention facility near the capital, four months after being released pending trial on initial charges of attempted rebellion.
Yoon, who was impeached by lawmakers on December 14 and formally removed from office in April after the Constitutional Court upheld the decision, now faces a growing list of accusations, including obstructing official duties, abuse of power, and falsifying official documents.
The charges stem from his December 3 martial law decree, which lasted only hours before lawmakers broke through a military blockade at the National Assembly and overturned the measure. Prosecutors allege that Yoon attempted to illegally seize control of the legislature and election offices while ordering the detention of political rivals.
The arrest warrant follows an extended hearing on Wednesday and could lead to an initial detention of up to 20 days. If indicted on additional charges, Yoon could remain in custody for up to six months until an initial verdict is reached. A conviction would likely result in a prison sentence, with further appeals pending in higher courts.
Yoon’s lawyers described the arrest as excessive and unsubstantiated but have not yet responded to the court’s latest decision. The former president did not answer questions from reporters on arrival at court.
Prosecutors also accuse Yoon of imposing martial law without proper legal procedures, such as consulting the Cabinet, and of using the presidential security service like a private army to block police from detaining him at his residence in January.
Yoon has defended his actions, claiming the martial law was necessary to suppress “anti-state” liberal forces in parliament who, he said, were obstructing his agenda.
The arrest comes amid a broader investigation led by special prosecutor Cho Eun-suk. President Lee Jae Myung, Yoon’s liberal rival who won the June snap election, recently approved legislation authorising sweeping probes into Yoon’s imposition of martial law and other allegations involving his wife and former administration officials.
The rebellion-related charges carry penalties ranging from life imprisonment to the death sentence under South Korean law.
