Khaberni - A court in South Korea issued a new arrest warrant today, Friday, for former President Yoon Suk Yeol, who has been in prison for months, which will lead to an extension of his detention pending a decision on charges related to his attempt to impose martial law in 2024.
In mid-December 2024, the South Korean prosecution accused Yoon of trying to provoke North Korea into launching a military aggression against his country, in order to justify the declaration of martial law, and then to eliminate political opponents.
In the preceding month, the prosecution charged the former South Korean president with "aiding the enemy", and noted that he ordered drones to be flown over North Korea to bolster his efforts to declare martial law.
The warrant in that case was set to expire on January 18 of the current month, but today's decision extends it for up to 6 months.
The former president announced in December 2024 the suspension of civil rule for the first time in more than four decades, which sparked a severe crisis and widespread protests, and prompted lawmakers to move to cancel the decision.
Yoon was arrested in January 2025, becoming the first president of South Korea to be detained while in office, after he resisted arrest for weeks, using his presidential guards to obstruct law enforcement authorities.
He was released for procedural reasons in March of the past year, was formally removed from office the following month, and his trial continued on charges of incitement to rebellion, but he was re-arrested in July out of fear that he might destroy evidence related to the case.
The prosecution is seeking a 10-year prison sentence for Yoon on charges of obstructing justice, and the Seoul court is expected to issue its verdict in this case on January 16 of the current month.
