The police's 12.3 emergency martial law special investigation team decided on the 19th to review an arrest warrant application for former President Yoon Suk-yeol, who failed to respond to a third summons.
The special police unit announced on the same day that they are "in consultation with the 'insurrection special prosecutor' regarding the arrest warrant application for former President Yoon." This implies that all procedures, including whether to apply for an arrest warrant, are being discussed with special prosecutor Cho Eun-seok of the insurrection special prosecutor's office. Although the application for the arrest warrant is likely to be submitted to the West Seoul District Prosecutor's Office, it is reported that the final conclusion has not yet been determined.
Typically, if a suspected individual fails to respond to three summonses without justifiable reasons, investigation authorities consider securing personal information through an arrest or detention warrant. Yoon Suk-yeol's attorney, Yoon Gap-keun, sent a statement to the police on the 17th, asserting that "legally, no crime has been established, and there is no fact that he was involved in or instructed the alleged charges brought by the police."
Former President Yoon is facing allegations of obstruction of special official duties for directing the Presidential Security Service in January to prevent his own arrest. He is also accused of abuse of power under the Presidential Security Service Act for ordering the Security Service to delete information related to military commanders' communication on December 7, four days after the martial law was declared.
Former President Yoon was detained on charges of insurrection but had the detention order canceled by the court. As a result, he cannot be rearrested on insurrection charges; however, additional arrest is possible for the allegations currently under police investigation.