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The issuance of the court warrant marks the first time that South Korean authorities have attempted to detain a sitting president.
A South Korean court has issued an arrest warrant for ousted President Yoon Suk-yeol over his short-lived declaration of martial law in a historic first.
The Seoul West District Court on Tuesday approved the warrant following a request from the Joint Investigation Headquarters, which is investigating the South Korean opposition leader for rebellion and abuse of power.
“The arrest warrant and search warrant for President Yoon Suk Yeol, requested by the Joint Investigation Headquarters, were issued this morning,” said the Joint Investigation Headquarters, which includes officials from the Corruption Investigation Office for Senior Officials (CIO), police and said the Ministry of Defence, in a statement.
This move marks the first time that authorities have attempted to detain the president of South Korea.
It is unclear when authorities might try to arrest Yoon.
Yoon's security detail has prevented investigators from executing multiple search warrants at the presidential office complex and the president's official residence.
The Presidential Security Service said in a statement shortly after the court's decision that it would handle the warrant in accordance with legal processes.
South Korean media have speculated that it is unlikely that Yoon will be arrested soon as authorities would try to coordinate with the presidential security service.
If Yoon is arrested, investigators would have 48 hours to decide whether to apply for a warrant to hold him for further questioning or release him.
Yun Gap-geun, a lawyer for Yoon, said in a statement that the warrant was “illegal and invalid”, arguing that the CIO does not have the authority to investigate the president for ar-a – out
Kwon Sung-dong, floor leader of Yoon's People's Power Party, criticized the court's decision to issue a warrant, calling it “unacceptable”.
Yoon faces a possible life sentence, or even the death penalty, after briefly imposing martial law on December 3, which has plunged the East Asian country into the biggest political crisis in decades.
While Yoon cannot be prosecuted for most crimes while he is president, he does not have immunity in cases of rebellion or treason.
Yoon has been suspended from his duties since December 14, during the National Assembly vote to dismiss him in a 204-85 vote.
In deepening the country's leadership crisis, the opposition-controlled legislature also voted on Friday to impeach acting president Han Duck-soo, handing presidential authority to the Deputy Prime Minister and Minister the Treasurer Choi Sang-mok.
The Democratic Party and several opposition parties voted to impeach Han for refusing to immediately appoint three judges to fill vacancies on the Constitutional Court, which is considering whether to stand down. Yoon's impeachment.
The court has up to six months to make its decision, after which Yoon will be removed from office or restored to the presidency.
Yoon has defended his martial law order as legal and necessary, citing the threat of “anti-state forces” and a stalemate with his opposition rivals.
