South Korean Police Build Case Against Impeached President Yoon Suk Yeol

South Korean police are formally pursuing charges against impeached President Yoon Suk Yeol for allegedly obstructing the execution of his arrest warrant, a police spokesperson confirmed Friday.

A South Korean court issued the warrant on December 31, accusing Yoon of insurrection over his controversial martial law decree last year. However, authorities could not execute it until January 15, as Yoon refused to comply and the Presidential Security Service blocked investigators for days.

Since January 3, police have been investigating Yoon for special obstruction of public duty, a charge carrying a maximum penalty of five years in prison under South Korean law.

Yoon denies that his martial law declaration qualifies as insurrection, one of only two charges a sitting president is not immune from. His legal team previously argued that the arrest warrant was invalid due to alleged procedural flaws.

The Constitutional Court, which is reviewing Yoon’s impeachment, announced it will hear final arguments from both Yoon and parliament in the upcoming session. If the court upholds his removal, Yoon’s immunity from most criminal charges will end. Analysts predict a ruling as early as March.