South Korean Court Issues New Arrest Warrant for Ex-President Yoon Over Martial Law Attempt

A South Korean court has issued a fresh arrest warrant for former president Yoon Suk Yeol, giving prosecutors the authority to forcibly bring him in for questioning after he repeatedly ignored official summons.

The special counsel leading the probe into Yoon and his wife, former first lady Kim Keon Hee, confirmed the court’s decision, stating: “An arrest warrant has been issued today for former president Yoon Suk Yeol.”

Yoon has been at the center of an unprecedented political and legal crisis since December 3, when he attempted to impose martial law, deploying troops to parliament to block lawmakers from overturning his decree.

He became South Korea’s first sitting president to be taken into custody in January, after weeks of resisting arrest with the help of his presidential security detail.

Yoon was released on procedural grounds in March, but detained again in early July amid concerns that he might destroy evidence linked to insurrection and election tampering allegations.

Prosecutors summoned him for parliamentary election interference questioning, but his lawyers cited health issues to explain his repeated failure to appear. A renewed detention request filed on Wednesday was approved the next day, allowing prosecutors to enter his detention facility and compel him to face questioning.

Separate investigations also target Yoon and Kim Keon Hee, who allegedly received luxury gifts — including a diamond necklace and designer handbag — through shaman Jeon Seong-bae, from a senior Unification Church official.

The ongoing legal storm highlights South Korea’s turbulent political tradition, where former leaders frequently face prosecution for corruption or abuse of power after leaving office.