A South Korean court on Thursday issued a renewed arrest warrant for former President Yoon Suk Yeol, granting prosecutors authority to forcibly compel his appearance for questioning after he repeatedly defied formal summons.
The special counsel investigating Yoon and his wife, former First Lady Kim Keon Hee, confirmed the decision in a public statement: “An arrest warrant has been issued today for former president Yoon Suk Yeol.”
Yoon’s legal and political troubles stem from a dramatic political crisis on December 3, when he attempted to impose martial law. In an unprecedented move, he deployed troops to the National Assembly in an effort to block lawmakers from voting against his declaration. The move sparked a constitutional showdown, making him the first sitting president in South Korea’s history to face detention while still in office.
After weeks of defying investigators — aided by his presidential security detail — Yoon was detained in January. He was later released in March on procedural grounds while his insurrection trial proceeded. However, concerns about possible evidence destruction led to his re-arrest in early July.
In the latest escalation, prosecutors investigating alleged tampering in parliamentary elections had summoned Yoon for questioning. His legal team cited health problems as the reason for his nonappearance, but prosecutors pressed ahead, filing a fresh request for a detention warrant on Wednesday.
With the court’s approval, prosecutors are now empowered to enter Yoon’s detention facility and compel his participation in questioning sessions.
Beyond the martial law and election-related cases, Yoon faces additional scrutiny over separate allegations involving his wife. Prosecutors are probing claims that a shaman, Jeon Seong-bae, received an expensive diamond necklace and a luxury designer handbag from a senior Unification Church official and passed them on to Kim Keon Hee.
The unfolding investigations mark one of the most turbulent chapters in South Korea’s political history, with Yoon’s legal battles still far from resolution.
