On October 25, 2022, South Korean President Yoon Suk-yeol addressed the National Assembly in Seoul, discussing the government's budget. Reuters
South Korea's impeached president, Yoon Suk Yeol, has vowed to continue his battle against his arrest over his brief martial law declaration, sending a letter to his supporters expressing his determination to "fight until the end." Yoon's defiance comes as he faces a serious attempt by authorities to arrest him for his involvement in what is being seen as an act of insurrection.
In the letter sent late Wednesday, Yoon, who is under investigation for allegedly attempting to declare martial law on December 3, told his supporters, "I am watching on YouTube live all the hard work you are doing." His supporters had gathered near his official residence to protest the investigation against him. "I will fight until the end to protect this country together with you," he added, encouraging them to stand with him in his time of crisis. The message was shared by Yoon's lawyer, Seok Dong-hyeon, with Reuters.
The statement, however, has drawn sharp criticism from the opposition Democratic Party, which led the impeachment proceedings against Yoon. The party's spokesman, Jo Seoung-lae, slammed Yoon's words, calling them a sign of delusion and accusing him of inciting his followers to violence. "As if trying to stage an insurrection wasn’t enough, he is now inciting his supporters to an extreme clash," said Jo, suggesting that Yoon’s actions were escalating the situation.
On Tuesday, a South Korean court approved an arrest warrant for Yoon, making him the first sitting president in the country to face potential detention. The arrest warrant is part of a broader investigation into his role in allegedly attempting to impose martial law, a move that has been classified as insurrection. Unlike other criminal charges, a South Korean president does not have immunity from charges of insurrection. This has made Yoon vulnerable to legal actions that could result in his detention.
The Corruption Investigation Office for High-ranking Officials (CIO), which is heading the investigation, now has until January 6 to execute the arrest warrant. However, there remains uncertainty about how or when Yoon will be arrested, as his security services have already blocked attempts by investigators to search his office and residence. There are concerns that Yoon’s presidential security team may try to prevent the arrest from taking place.
Meanwhile, Yoon’s impeachment trial is ongoing at the Constitutional Court. The court is set to hold a second hearing on Friday, and the outcome of this trial could lead to significant political changes in the country. As of now, Yoon has been suspended from his presidential duties, and Finance Minister Choi Sang-mok is serving as acting president until the trial's resolution. If the court upholds the impeachment, a new presidential election will be held within 60 days.
Yoon's legal team has already contested the arrest warrant. Lawyer Yoon Kab-keun argued that the warrant was illegal, claiming the CIO did not have the proper authority to request such a warrant under South Korean law. The warrant was issued after Yoon defied repeated summonses to answer questions from investigators, who are conducting a criminal probe separate from his impeachment trial.
The investigation is widening, with several high-ranking military officers and former officials, including a former defense minister, facing charges related to insurrection. The former defense minister, who reportedly recommended the martial law declaration, is set to stand trial on January 16.
