Court Begins Review of Objection to Arrest and Search Warrant for President Yoon

The court has begun reviewing the objection filed by President Yoon Seok-yeol's side to prevent the execution of arrest and search warrants.

On the 12th, citizens at the Seoul Station waiting room are watching the urgent statement regarding President Yoon Seok-yeol's declaration of martial law. Photo by Kang Jin-hyung

On the 3rd, the Seoul Western District Court announced that the objection case filed by President Yoon's side has been assigned to a panel of judges. However, a court official stated, "Since this is an unusual case, it is uncertain whether the panel will proceed with the usual hearing procedures. At this time, we cannot confirm the future procedures."

President Yoon's side, against whom arrest and search warrants were issued on charges of rebellion and abuse of authority, filed an objection with the court the previous day to block the execution of the warrants. This is an additional response in the criminal procedure following their earlier application for a constitutional dispute adjudication and a provisional injunction to suspend effectiveness at the Constitutional Court.

Yoon Gap-geun, the lawyer representing President Yoon, argued that the inclusion of the phrase "Articles 110 and 111 of the Criminal Procedure Act do not apply to this warrant" in the warrant issued by the Corruption Investigation Office for High-ranking Officials (CIO) violates Article 12 of the Constitution. Article 12 of the Constitution stipulates that "No arrest, detention, search, or seizure shall be made except according to the law," while Articles 110 and 111 of the Criminal Procedure Act prohibit the seizure or search of places and items containing military or official secrets without the consent of the person in charge.