South Korean investigators seek arrest warrant for Yoon in first for sitting president

A joint investigation team said Monday it has sought an arrest warrant for President Yoon Suk Yeol over his short-lived imposition of martial law, making him the first sitting president to face arrest, Yonhap reports.

The team said it sought the warrant on insurrection and abuse of power charges after Yoon ignored three summonses to appear for questioning.

The request was filed with the Seoul Western District Court at midnight Sunday, according to the team comprised of the Corruption Investigation Office for High-ranking Officials (CIO), the police and the defense ministry's investigation unit.

Investigators say Yoon led an insurrection and abused his power when he declared martial law on Dec. 3 and allegedly ordered troops to the National Assembly to stop lawmakers from voting down the decree.

Yoon has denied the charges, saying his declaration of martial law was an "act of governance" to warn the opposition party against what he described as its abuse of legislative power.

In response, Yun Gap-geun, one of Yoon's legal representatives, said they will submit a document of opinions to the court over the arrest warrant request and a notice of the appointment of lawyers later in the day.

Yun earlier vowed to take "formal steps" in response to the CIO's move.

"It's a request by an agency that does not have the authority to investigate (insurrection charges)," he told Yonhap News Agency, referring to the CIO.

Earlier it was reported that Yoon defied joint investigation team’s summons for several times over material law probe.