A South Korean court on Tuesday approved an arrest warrant for President Yoon Suk-Yeol, the investigating authorities said. President Yoon Suk-Yeol was impeached and suspended from power over his decision to impose martial law on December 3. "The arrest warrant and search warrant for suspended President Yoon Suk-Yeol were issued by the Joint Investigation Headquarters on Tuesday morning," the Joint Investigation Headquarters said in a statement.

Arrest warrant issued for the first time for a President

The Anti-Corruption Investigation Office of High-Ranking Officials confirmed that the Seoul Western District Court approved the warrant. According to local media, this is the first arrest warrant issued for a sitting president in South Korea. 

On Monday, South Korean investigators sought an arrest warrant for Yoon over the imposition of short-lived martial law this month. Yoon is facing a criminal investigation into charges of possible subversion. The court has declined to comment on the case.

The president had declared martial law

South Korea's president made a shocking decision on Tuesday night to declare martial law in South Korea for the first time, but it was withdrawn after heavy pressure. In his address, Yoon referred to the opposition's efforts to weaken the government and said that he declares martial law to "crush the anti-national forces causing destruction." This order meant that the country temporarily came under the control of the army.

Martial law was imposed during the emergency

Martial law is imposed in South Korea during times of emergency. It means temporary rule in the country, during which the command of the country goes into the hands of the army. The reason given for this is that the elected government is unable to carry out its work. It was last declared in South Korea in the year 1979, when the then military dictator of South Korea, Park Chung-hee, was assassinated during a coup.

It has never been implemented since South Korea became a parliamentary democracy in 1987, but President Yun has just imposed martial law in the country. He said in his address to the nation that he is trying to protect South Korea from 'anti-national forces'.