South Korea considers emergency arrest warrant for President Yoon Suk-yeol

"When the situation allows, we will seek to carry out an emergency arrest warrant or a court-ordered arrest" of President Yoon Suk-yeol, Oh Dong-woon, head of the Corruption Investigation Office of Senior Officials (CIO), said at a meeting of the National Assembly's Legislative Committee on February 11. "We will take all possible measures," Oh said.

The CIO is coordinating with the police and the South Korean Ministry of National Defense to conduct a joint investigation into President Yoon's martial law decree.

When a lawmaker asked if he was willing to arrest President Yoon, Mr. Oh affirmed, "I am willing to do that."

"We are conducting a thorough investigation and will look into the issue of arresting the President," he added, noting that the investigating agency must first follow due process.

Several other South Korean law enforcement agencies are also investigating President Yoon and consider him a "potential mastermind" behind the declaration of martial law last weekend.

President Yoon Suk-yeol unexpectedly declared martial law on the night of December 3, expressing anger at the opposition in the National Assembly. Former Defense Minister Kim Yong-hyun is said to have suggested the President make the decision.

The South Korean National Assembly held an emergency meeting in the early hours of December 4 and passed a resolution to block martial law. President Yoon lifted the martial law a few hours later. The opposition Democratic Party accused President Yoon of "unconstitutional, rebellious, and treasonous" actions and attempted to impeach him over the weekend, but failed.

Opposition lawmakers on December 10 passed a resolution calling on law enforcement agencies to promptly arrest President Yoon and senior officials involved in the martial law declaration. However, the resolution is non-binding and can be overturned by the president.

Mr Yoon is now considered a "suspect of rebellion" and is banned from leaving the country. Under South Korean law, the president enjoys immunity from prosecution while in office, but not for rebellion.