Yoon’s supporters have argued that the actions taken against him are in violation of South Korean law. His attorney stated on Friday that the arrest warrant was deemed as “illegal and invalid,” and they plan to pursue legal action against its execution. Yoon’s defense team filed an injunction with the Constitutional Court to halt the warrant and also lodged an objection with a lower court regarding the order. If arrested, Yoon can be held for up to 48 hours for questioning based on the current warrant related to charges of abuse of authority and leading an insurrection. An additional warrant would need to be obtained within that timeframe for further detention.
Despite facing investigations and an ongoing impeachment trial, Yoon has remained resolute. In a recent letter to his supporters, he promised to continue fighting for the country. He has mostly stayed out of the public eye since the backlash following his controversial decree. The main opposition party has called on the presidential security team to resist any unlawful orders and urged Yoon to comply with the arrest warrant.
Yoon had declared martial law in a late-night address on December 3, citing the need to protect South Korea from perceived threats. The declaration was swiftly reversed by the National Assembly, leading to criticism and political turmoil. Subsequently, the country impeached its prime minister and acting president, with the finance minister assuming the role of acting president. New allegations have emerged surrounding Yoon’s actions during the martial law episode, leading to his impending detention.
The former defense minister’s prosecution indictment report alleges that Yoon instructed the military to use force, if necessary, to remove lawmakers from the National Assembly during the martial law episode. The impeachment proceedings against Yoon are set to be heard in a separate Constitutional Court trial starting on January 14.
The upcoming trial, which is anticipated to span a duration of potentially six months, will ultimately determine the fate of his presidency – whether he will be ousted from his position or reinstated. The Constitutional Court has adamantly asserted that this case will be treated as a matter of utmost importance, alongside various other impeachment proceedings that the opposition has instigated against key members within Yoon’s administration, including the justice minister, prosecutors, and several senior officials. This narrative continues to evolve, with the dedicated contributions of CNN’s Mitchell McCluskey and Alex Stambaugh to the coverage. For the latest updates and in-depth CNN coverage, consider signing up for an account at CNN.com.
