South Korean court rejects Yoon appeal against arrest warrant, Yonhap reports
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Mr Yoon Suk Yeol has been suspended from presidential duties since Dec 14 because of his short-lived declaration of martial law.
PHOTO: AFP
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SEOUL – A South Korean court dismissed an appeal by lawyers of impeached President Yoon Suk Yeol against a warrant for his arrest, Yonhap reported on Jan 5.
The lawyers filed an objection on Jan 2 to the execution of the warrant, according to the report. The next day, high-ranking officials backed by about 2,700 police officers made an unsuccessful attempt to serve the warrant during a six-hour standoff with Mr Yoon’s security team. The warrant, issued on Dec 31, 2024, is valid until Jan 6.
Mr Yoon has been suspended from presidential duties since Dec 14 because of his short-lived declaration of martial law. Lawyers for the President, who is still living in the official residence in Seoul, claim the warrant is flawed, and say they plan to sue about 150 people linked to the attempt to serve it, Chosun Ilbo reported separately on Jan 5.
The President’s attorneys accused the authorities, including head of the Corruption Investigation Office for High-Ranking Officials (CIO) Oh Dong-woon, Vice-Minister of Defence Kim Seon-ho and the acting chief of the National Police Agency of breaking several laws in trying to execute the warrant, according to the report.
A Defence Ministry spokesperson declined to comment on the accusations by Mr Yoon’s lawyers. The CIO – an independent government agency specialising in crimes involving senior leaders – did not immediately respond to phone calls on Jan 5.
The attempt to arrest Mr Yoon came after he refused multiple requests to appear for questioning over his actions on Dec 3, when he declared martial law for about six hours in an episode that shocked the nation and the world.
Mr Yoon’s legal representatives are considering filing an appeal in the Supreme Court, according to Yonhap. The anti-corruption office will not try to serve the warrant on Jan 5, the news agency said in a separate report. BLOOMBERG
