South Korean investigators are seeking an arrest warrant for suspended President Yun Seok-yeol over his brief imposition of martial law this month, officials said on Monday. This is the first time a sitting president has faced such measures.
Mr. Yoon has not responded to a summons for questioning by the police and the High-level Corruption Investigation Bureau, which are jointly investigating whether the declaration of martial law on December 3 constitutes a riot.
Police attempted to raid the presidential palace as part of the investigation, but were unsuccessful.
The Seoul court will decide whether to issue an arrest warrant upon receiving the request.
Riot is one of the few crimes for which South Korea's president is not immune.
The suspended president's lawyer, Yoon Kapgun, said the arrest request was “unreasonable” and that the anti-corruption agency had no authority to do so.
“Emergency martial law is within the president's authority,” the lawyer told reporters outside the Seoul Western District Court after submitting a written opinion on the arrest warrant request and a letter of appointment of a lawyer.
Yun was impeached by Congress over his decision to briefly impose martial law and had his presidential powers suspended.
Masked martial law troops equipped with rifles, body armor and night vision equipment entered the Capitol and confronted officers who responded with fire extinguishers.
The law lasted only a few hours before Congress rejected it and Yun rescinded it.
The move shocked the country, which has been a democracy since the 1980s, and sparked international alarm among allies such as the United States and trading partners of Asia's fourth-largest economy.
The Constitutional Court has begun hearings on whether to reinstate Yoon or permanently dismiss him.
There are 180 days until a decision is made.
On Friday, the court held its first preparatory hearing, rejecting a request by Yun's lawyers to postpone proceedings to make preparations.
The court said it would proceed quickly.
The next public hearing is scheduled for January 3rd.
