South Korean leader defies arrest over martial law clash

South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol vows to fight "anti-state forces." He disagrees with the court-issued arrest warrant related to his imposition of martial law at the beginning of December.

The Office for the Investigation of Corruption Among High-Ranking Officials has one week to execute the arrest warrant. However, Yoon has repeatedly refused to appear for questioning.

This complicates the investigation, which aims to determine whether his actions constituted rebellion. The chief prosecutor of the anti-corruption agency, Oh Dong Woon, does not rule out using police force if the president's security prevents his arrest.

Yoon’s legal team claims the arrest warrant is "invalid." The president's defenders also argue that the anti-corruption agency does not have the right to investigate a rebellion case.

Law enforcement agencies are investigating whether the imposition of martial law was an act of rebellion. The president does not have immunity in this matter.

The martial law in South Korea lasted about six hours. The president, who unexpectedly declared it during a press conference, called it off in the middle of the night.

The reason for this decision remains a mystery. It is most likely that Yoon Suk Yeol, who recently set records for declining popularity as a national leader, intended to maintain power by force.

Citizens, who were abruptly informed of the ban on political activities, the establishment of military authority, and the takeover of media control, took to the streets in protest. During this time, the parliament was surrounded by the military, but its members managed to assemble and vote to reject the presidential decree on martial law.