South Korea’s former president faces new arrests from martial arts decree – State
South Korean courts earlier Thursday approved a new arrest by former President Yoon Suk Yeol on the charges related to his brief imposition of martial law in December, accepting the claims of the special prosecutor that he posed a risk of undermining evidence.
An arrest warrant issued by Seoul’s Central District Court sent Yoon Eun back to a detention center near the capital, four months after he was released in March, when the same court overturned his January arrest and allowed him to be tried for the rebellion without being detained.
His criminal case was handled by a team of investigators from Special Prosecutor Cho Eun-Suk, who made additional charges against Yoon’s authoritarian push, including obstructing official duties, abuse of power and forging official documents.
Cho’s team asked him twice before filing his warrant request to the court on Sunday.
Yuan’s attorney described the arrest request as excessive and unfounded. They did not immediately respond to a court ruling that approved the arrest of the Yuan, which was formally removed from office in April after the Constitutional Court upheld its impeachment.
After arriving at the court on Wednesday afternoon, Yoon did not answer reporters’ questions to review the request of the Special Attorney. After the hearing lasted about seven hours, Yoon was taken to the detention center, awaiting a court decision.
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Yoon’s new arrest could mark the beginning of a long-term detention and could last for months or more. Yoon could initially be detained at the center for up to 20 days, and the special prosecutor’s goal is to charge him with additional charges.
If Yoon is sued for new charges, it could leave him arrested for up to six months until the initial court ruling. If the court convicts him and sentences to prison, Yoon will obey the judgment if the case may be transferred to the High Court.
The former conservative leader described his martial law incident on December 3 as a necessary step to revoke his “anti-state” liberal rival, accusing them of using his legislative majority to hinder his agenda. But the dollar’s decree lasted for several hours after a MP broke a group of armed soldiers and voted to cancel the measures.
Yoon was impeached by lawmakers on December 14 and prosecuted on January 26, with prosecutors accusing him of planning an attempted rebellion, seizing his powers as an illegal attempt to seize the legislature and election office and detaining political opponents.
These charges are subject to death or life imprisonment.
Yoon also faces allegations of enforcing martial law without following required legal procedures such as deliberations of formal cabinet meetings, and the illegal deployment of presidential security forces like the private army to prevent law enforcement’s initial attempts to detain his residence in early January.
His liberal rival and current president Lee Jae Myung won the June scramble to replace him, endorsing legislation last month that launched a comprehensive investigation into Yoon’s martial law collapse and other criminal charges involving his wife and the government.
& Copy 2025 Canadian Press
