A South Korean court has approved an arrest warrant for President Yoon Suk Yeol. He was removed from office following a decision to impose martial law in the country on December 3, reports Reuters.

The Corruption Investigation Office for High-ranking Officials (CIO) confirmed that the Seoul Western District Court on Tuesday, December 31, approved the arrest warrant requested by investigators probing Yoon’s brief imposition of martial law. This marks the first arrest warrant for a sitting president in South Korea.

The Secretary-General did not comment on the court’s reasoning for issuing the arrest warrant. The court declined to provide comments to the agency.

It is currently unclear when and how the arrest warrant for Yoon will be executed. South Korea’s Presidential Security Service stated it would review the arrest warrant in accordance with proper legal procedures.

Additionally, the court approved a search warrant for the president’s residence. Meanwhile, the acting leader of South Korea’s ruling People Power Party, Kweon Seong-dong, said the attempt to arrest the sitting president was inappropriate.

Previously, the police attempted but failed to conduct a search of the president’s office as part of the investigation, as the president’s security service blocked access.

Yoon is facing a criminal case involving potential charges of organizing a coup. A coup is one of the few charges for which the South Korean president has no immunity.

Coup attempt in South Korea

On December 3, President Yoon Suk Yeol declared martial law in the country. The president aimed to remove the opposition Democratic Party and other political opponents from power.

The decision triggered a severe political crisis, accompanied by protests near the parliament and government buildings. Yoon later rescinded the martial law, which lasted about six hours and apologized for the decision.

The president was removed from office, and his powers were transferred to the country’s Prime Minister, Han Duck-soo.

Meanwhile, investigators determined that Yoon allowed the military to use force against protesters who had blocked the entrance to the parliament.

On December 27, the Constitutional Court began reviewing a case on impeachment proceedings against Yoon Suk Yeol.

On December 30, investigators requested an arrest warrant for President Yoon.