Particle.news

Download on the App Store

Seoul Court Approves New Arrest Warrant for Ex-President Yoon Suk Yeol

A judge cited evidence-tampering fears alongside flight concerns in approving a fresh warrant requested by special prosecutor Cho Eun-suk over Yoon’s December martial law declaration

South Korea's former president Yoon Suk Yeol arrives to attend his criminal trial on insurrection charges at a courtroom of the Seoul Central District Court in Seoul on April 21, 2025.     JUNG YEON-JE/Pool via REUTERS/File Photo
Image
South Korea's former President Yoon Suk Yeol arrives at Seoul High Prosecutor's Office to attend questioning after being summoned as part of a probe by a special prosecutor into his botched attempt to declare martial law, in Seoul, South Korea, June 28, 2025. REUTERS/Kim Soo-hyeon REFILE - CORRECTING LOCATION FROM "SEOUL CENTRAL DISTRICT PROSECUTOR'S OFFICE" TO "SEOUL HIGH PROSECUTOR'S OFFICE\
Image

Overview

  • Seoul Central District Court approved a new arrest warrant on July 10, sending Yoon back to the Seoul Detention Center after a seven-hour pretrial hearing.
  • Judge Nam Se-jin cited concerns over evidence destruction and flight risk in justifying the detention order.
  • The special counsel led by Cho Eun-suk has charged Yoon with five offenses tied to his December martial law bid, including abuse of power, falsification of official documents and obstruction.
  • Yoon was released in March after a court overturned his January detention on technical grounds and was removed from office by the Constitutional Court in April.
  • He now awaits formal indictment on insurrection and related charges, potentially extending his custody as prosecutors prepare further allegations.