President Yoon Suk Yeol’s Side “Issuance of Arrest Warrant is Unacceptable, Illegal and Invalid”

In a statement released after the issuance of the warrant on December 31, the legal team said, “The arrest warrant and search and seizure warrant issued by an investigative body lacking the proper authority are in violation of the law, rendering them illegal and invalid.”

They added, “Requesting the arrest warrant at the Seoul Western District Court instead of the Seoul Central District Court, which is expected to handle the main trial, goes against established principles and precedents. This is deeply regrettable. It is also incomprehensible that an arrest warrant has been issued despite the president having valid reasons for non-attendance, such as issues surrounding investigative authority.”

The CIO had filed the arrest warrant with the Seoul Western District Court at midnight the previous day after President Yoon failed to respond to three summons. Judge Lee Soon-hyung, who oversees warrants at the Seoul Western District Court, issued the warrant that morning.

Meanwhile, on the night of December 3, President Yoon Suk Yeol announced martial law during a live address. However, following the National Assembly’s approval of a motion to lift martial law in the early hours of December 4, he rescinded the declaration around 4:30 AM.