Seoul: A court hearing to determine whether an arrest warrant should be issued for former President Yoon Suk Yeol concluded after nearly seven hours on Wednesday. The hearing, held at the Seoul Central District Court, centered on charges related to Yoon's unsuccessful attempt to impose martial law.
According to Yonhap News Agency, the session began at approximately 2:20 p.m. and ended around 9 p.m. During this time, a special counsel team presented arguments in favor of the warrant, while Yoon's defense team opposed it. Yoon, who was present at the hearing, delivered a final 20-minute statement but declined to answer questions from reporters as he exited the courthouse.
The court's decision regarding the warrant is anticipated either late Wednesday or early Thursday. Until then, Yoon will remain at the Seoul Detention Center in Uiwang, located just south of the capital. The hearing follows a request by special counsel Cho Eun-suk for Yoon's arrest based on five significant charges, including alleged illegalities during a Cabinet meeting held shortly before the declaration of martial law on December 3.
One of the charges accuses Yoon of creating a falsified martial law declaration document after December 3 to enhance the legitimacy of his actions. It is alleged that the document was signed by then Prime Minister Han Duck-soo and then Defense Minister Kim Yong-hyun before being discarded. Other charges include instructing the presidential spokesperson for foreign press to issue false statements denying an intent to undermine the constitutional order, directing the Presidential Security Service to prevent his detention by investigators in early January, and ordering the deletion of call records from secure phones used by three military commanders.
Yoon's defense has denied all charges. Should the court decide to issue the warrant, it would mark the second time Yoon has been taken into custody, the first being in January during his tenure in office.