A Seoul court on Friday issued an arrest warrant for former South Korean President Yun Seok-yol on charges related to the likely launch of drones into North Korea in October 2024. This is reported by the agency Yonhap.
According to special prosecutor Cho In-seok’s team, the Seoul Central District Court issued the warrant due to the risk of destroying evidence.
Yoon’s detention period, which was set to end on 18 January, will be extended for another six months.
Cho’s team had previously asked for an extension of his arrest while charging him with a probable drone operation, which investigators believe was aimed at inciting revenge against the DPRK and using it as a pretext to declare martial law in December 2024.
Prosecutors suspect that Yoon gave a direct order to send drones to North Korea without informing the Defence Ministry or the Joint Chiefs of Staff.
Previously, Yoon Seok-yeol denied accusations of sending drones to North Korea to create a pretext for martial law.
This is the third time Yoon has been arrested. He was first arrested in January last year on sedition charges, though a court later cancelled the arrest and the politician was released in March. Yun was arrested again in July on charges related to an attempt to impose martial law in December 2024, as well as obstructing investigators from executing an arrest warrant.
The trial against the former president continues. He faces life imprisonment or execution on the charges.
In June 2025, South Korea held an early presidential election, which was won by the opposition Democratic Party candidate Lee Jae-men.