South Korea’s impeached President Yoon faces arrest as court issues warrant, deepening political turmoil

South Korea’s impeached President Yoon faces arrest as court issues warrant, deepening political turmoil


South Korean President Yoon Suk-Yeol speaks to the nation at the Presidential Office on December 14, 2024 in Seoul, South Korea. 

South Korean Presidential Office | Getty Images News | Getty Images

South Korea’s impeached President Yoon Suk Yeon could become the first sitting president of the country to face an arrest after a court issued a warrant against him, domestic media reported.

The Seoul Western District Court issued the detention warrant against Yoon, Korea Times reported, after he failed to show up for questioning, despite multiple summons by a joint investigation unit comprising South Korea’s police and the Corruption Investigation Office for High-ranking Officials.

The warrant empowers the CIO to take Yoon into custody for questioning within a 48 hours.

Yoon Kab-keun, the sitting president’s lawyer, has said that investigating insurrection charges is outside the CIO’s jurisdiction. Citing security concerns, the Presidential Security Service has blocked access to the presidential office compound and Yoon’s official residence, according to news agency Yonhap.

South Korean presidents do not enjoy immunity from insurrection or treason charges. Moreover, presidents are not allowed to obstruct a court-issued detention or arrest warrant, according to CIO Chief Oh Dong-woon.

Yoon is facing charges related to his declaration of emergency martial law on Dec. 3, which he justified as necessary for the protection of the constitution. He lifted martial law within six hours after the country’s National Assembly voted to overturn his decree.

Yoon was impeached by lawmakers on Dec. 14, with members of his People Power Party voting in favor of the motion. An earlier vote had failed to reach a two-thirds majority.

South Korea’s Constitutional Court has begun proceedings to determine whether to remove Yoon from office or to reinstate him, reported Yonhap. It will deliver its ruling within 180 days, starting Dec. 14.

While the impeachment suspends Yoon from his duties and powers as head of state, he remains president while the Constitutional Court deliberates on his case.

After Yoon’s impeachment, Prime Minister Han Duck-soo filled in for the role of president.

However, Han was also impeached last week. He was accused by the opposition Democratic Party of being reluctant to immediately appoint three justices to the Constitutional Court.

Chio Sang-mok, deputy prime minister and finance minister, became acting president on Dec. 27 following Han’s impeachment.

— CNBC’s Ruxandra Iordache and Hakyung Kim contributed to this report.



Source

Tesla says it made its first driverless delivery of a new car to a customer
World

Tesla says it made its first driverless delivery of a new car to a customer

A Tesla logo outside the company’s Tilburg Factory and Delivery Center. Karol Serewis | Getty Images Tesla CEO Elon Musk said the automaker completed its first driverless delivery of a new car to a customer, routing a Model Y SUV from the company’s Austin, Texas, Gigafactory to an apartment building in the area on June […]

Read More
I’m 79 years old and the ‘father of functional medicine’: Here’s my daily routine for a healthy life
World

I’m 79 years old and the ‘father of functional medicine’: Here’s my daily routine for a healthy life

Jeffrey Bland, 79, is considered the “father of functional medicine.” He’s devoted most of his lifetime to studying the origins of diseases to focus on prevention in healthcare. The main question Bland’s research looks to answer is this one: “Could we move to a form of healthcare where we’re spending more time worrying about and […]

Read More
Stock market reclaims February record peak. How the fundamentals and technicals look now vs. then
World

Stock market reclaims February record peak. How the fundamentals and technicals look now vs. then

Just as they say you never step into the same river twice, the view from a given summit is never quite the same upon a second visit. The S & P 500 has fully scaled its way to its first record high in more than four months on Friday, recovering what was at the intraday […]

Read More