South Korean court approves arrest warrant for impeached President Yoon over martial law

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• South Korean court approves arrest warrant for impeached President Yoon
• First time authorities have sought to detain a sitting South Korean president
• Yoon faces possible life imprisonment or the death penalty
• Martial law declaration plunged South Korea into its biggest political crisis in decades

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Court issues arrest warrant for South Korea's President Yoon

• Yoon argues that his declaration of martial law was a legitimate act of governance and a warning to the opposition party that he accuses of undermining the government's budget and sympathizing with North Korea.
• Experts predict that Yoon is likely to ignore the warrants, as he has already dodged repeated requests to appear for questioning and his office and residence have been protected by the presidential security service.
• Yoon's lawyer called the warrant "invalid" and "illegal," and the anti-corruption agency has not yet announced when it will proceed with the warrants.

Source

HuffPost

Fox News

ALJAZEERA

The Washington Post

Yoon Suk-yeol's supporters rally to protest his arrest warrant

• Thousands of Yoon's supporters have gathered outside his residence to demand an end to the investigation and the reversal of his impeachment.
• Authorities have deployed about 2,700 police and 135 police buses in the area to prevent violence between pro- and anti-Yoon protestors.
• Protestors chanted slogans such as "President Yoon Suk Yeol will be protected by the people!" and "Illegal warrant is invalid".

Source

HuffPost

ALJAZEERA

The Washington Post

Possible detention attempt on impeached South Korean President Yoon Suk-yeol

• Yoon's deputy and former President Park defied police summonses over suspected obstruction of official duty
• Presidential security service staff were seen installing barbed wire near Yoon's residence, possibly in preparation for another detention attempt
• The events suggest a continued political crisis in South Korea

Source

HuffPost

Yoon Suk-yeol's declaration of martial law and its aftermath

• Yoon's presidential immunity does not extend to allegations of rebellion or treason, which is the basis for his arrest warrant.
• Yoon's declaration of martial law was unconstitutional as a president in South Korea is only allowed to declare martial law during wartime or similar emergencies.
• Yoon's attempt to impede the parliament's vote on the decree with hundreds of troops and police officers led to public protests both in opposition and in support of him.

Source

Fox News

The crisis in South Korea and its impact on the alliance with the US

• Choi is currently juggling four top leadership positions while the country is facing its biggest political crisis in decades, with the won plunging to its lowest level in nearly 16 years and the government responding to one of the world’s deadliest airline crashes in years.
• The prolonged leadership vacuum has raised concerns about its impact on the alliance with the US, which has been central to containing North Korea and constraining China’s rise.
• The crisis coincides with the transition in Washington to a US president wary of defense pacts with allies, including Seoul.

Source

The Washington Post