South Korean investigators seek arrest warrant for President Yoon Suk Yeol

Yonhap news agency reported on December 30 that investigators in South Korea have requested an arrest warrant for President Yoon Suk Yeol, after Mr. Yoon repeatedly failed to appear in response to summons.

The information was released a day after Mr. Yoon on December 29 refused for the third time a request to appear for questioning, related to the investigation into his imposition of martial law in early December. Investigators have requested an arrest warrant for Mr. Yoon on charges of abuse of power.

South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol

According to Yonhap News Agency, Mr. Yoon's repeated disregard for requests to appear has prompted the investigation agency to want to take a more drastic step, which is to ask the court to approve an arrest warrant for the suspended president. The Corruption Investigation Office (CIO) of South Korea has repeatedly sent requests to Mr. Yoon in recent weeks, and three times is often considered the maximum limit for an individual to voluntarily appear before judicial authorities take coercive action.

CIO Director Oh Dong-woon said the agency will send an official letter to warn the presidential office if security forces obstruct the process of arresting Mr. Yoon.

Following the imposition of martial law on the night of December 3, President Yoon Suk Yeol was impeached by the National Assembly on December 14 and suspended from office. The then acting president, Prime Minister Han Duck-soo, was also impeached on December 27. Currently, Minister of Economy and Finance Choi Sang-mok is acting President of South Korea.

Previously, speaking on television on December 7 (4 days after declaring martial law), President Yoon affirmed that he would not shirk legal and political responsibility for his actions.

Source: https://thanhnien.vn/dieu-tra-vien-han-quoc-xin-lenh-bat-tong-thong-yoon-suk-yeol-185241230085326722.htm