A South Korean court has issued a renewed arrest warrant for former President Yoon Suk Yeol after he repeatedly failed to comply with summonses for questioning, deepening the legal troubles facing the embattled ex-leader.
The special counsel investigating Yoon and his wife, former First Lady Kim Keon Hee, confirmed the court’s decision in a statement on Thursday, authorising prosecutors to forcibly present Yoon for interrogation.
Yoon, who is currently in detention, is facing trial for attempting to subvert civilian authority on December 3, 2024, by deploying troops to parliament to block lawmakers from voting against his declaration of martial law. The move plunged the country into a political crisis and led to his historic arrest — the first for a sitting South Korean president.
Although he was temporarily released in March on procedural grounds, authorities re-detained him in early July over fears he might tamper with evidence related to the case.
His failure to respond to multiple summonses, with his legal team citing health concerns, prompted prosecutors to seek a new detention warrant, which the court granted on Wednesday.
With the warrant now in effect, prosecutors are authorised to enter Yoon’s detention facility to compel his appearance for questioning.
Beyond the insurrection case, Yoon and his wife are also under investigation over separate allegations involving luxury gifts. Prosecutors say a shaman, Jeon Seong-bae, allegedly received a diamond necklace and a designer handbag from a Unification Church official and passed them on to Kim Keon Hee.
The unfolding legal saga marks a dramatic reversal of fortunes for Yoon, who once led South Korea’s government and now faces serious charges that could carry significant prison time.
