Former South Korean President Yoon Appears in Court on Possible Detention Warrant

Yoon is already facing charges of insurrection and is also accused of unlawfully deploying security forces to block an initial attempt to arrest him in January.

South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol attends the fourth hearing of his impeachment trial over his short-lived imposition of martial law at the Constitutional Court in Seoul, South Korea, on Jan. 23, 2025. Joen Heon-Kyun/Pool via Reuters

Former South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol attended a court hearing on July 9 to review a special prosecutor’s request to arrest and detain him, as part of an investigation into his short-lived declaration of martial law last year.

Seoul Central District Court began hearing arguments from the special counsel team, led by special prosecutor Cho Eun-suk. Cho is pursuing additional charges against Yoon in connection with his Dec. 3, 2024, decree, including allegations of abuse of power, obstruction of official duties, and falsification of official documents.