South Korean authorities have requested a court warrant to arrest President Yoon Suk Yeol.
The warrant was requested by the Corruption Investigation Office for High-Ranking Officials, the Associated Press reported.
Yoon Kap-keun, the president’s lawyer, said in a statement, “An incumbent president cannot be prosecuted for abuse of power.”
“Of course, there are differing academic opinions on whether a president can be investigated for abuse of power and some assert that investigations are possible. But even when investigations are allowed, the prevailing opinion is that they should be exercised with the utmost restraint.”
The move follows Yoon declaring martial law, wherein he accused the opposition party of “sympathizing with North Korea and of anti-state activities.”
“They are paralyzing the judiciary by intimidating judges and impeaching a large number of prosecutors, and even paralyzing the executive branch by impeaching the minister of public administration and security, the chairman of the Korea Communications Commission, the chairman of the Board of Audit and Inspection, and the minister of national defense,” Yoon said.
“I declare martial law to protect the free Republic of Korea from the threat of North Korean communist forces, to eradicate the despicable pro-North Korean anti-state forces that are plundering the freedom and happiness of our people, and to protect the free constitutional order,” he announced earlier this month.
Lawmakers put forth a motion to impeach former President Yoon Suk-Yeol after he declared martial law.
“President Yoon Suk Yeol’s martial law declaration was a clear violation of the constitution. It didn’t abide by any requirements to declare it,” the Democratic Party said in a statement. “His martial law declaration was originally invalid and a grave violation of the constitution. It was a grave act of rebellion and provides perfect grounds for his impeachment.”
South Korean lawmakers later impeached Acting President Han Duck-soo, claiming he was not working fast enough to complete the impeachment of Yoon.
