South Korean court issues warrants to detain impeached President Yoon and search his office
Associated PressJan 01
Arrest Warrant Issued for S.Korean Pres. Yoon
story
Above: South Korean Pres. Yoon Suk-Yeol speaks during the declaration of emergency martial law at the Presidential Office on Dec. 03, 2024 in Seoul, South Korea. Image copyright: Handout/South Korean Presidential Office/Getty Images News via Getty Images
The Facts
A South Korean court has issued arrest warrants for Pres. Yoon Suk Yeol over his attempt to impose martial law on the country in early December, making him the first sitting president in the country's history to face arrest.
The martial law order on Dec. 3 was rescinded by members of parliament hours later, with Yoon being impeached on Dec. 14. Yoon's presidential powers are currently suspended pending a constitutional court decision.
The arrest and search warrants are for alleged abuse of power and treason and come after Yoon rebuffed summonses from the Corruption Investigation Office for High-ranking Officials. The lawyer for the president has called the warrants "illegal and invalid."
The Spin
Narrative A
The calamitous and unconstitutional move by Yoon to suspend democracy will have wide-ranging percussions, and is it only right that he face justice personally for this move that imperiled South Korea as we know it. Throwing up obstructions to protect Yoon is fruitless, as a broad coalition of lawmakers and civil society members holds Yoon to account.
Narrative B
While the motivations for his move are yet to be known to the broader public, the brief instance of martial law does not deserve the outsized reactions from enemies of the ruling party. The judiciary should let the impeachment proceedings continue without interference, and not attempt to bypass laws and norms to make a point against the president.
