South Korean authorities are seeking an arrest warrant for the ousted president in a martial law investigation

South Korean law enforcement officials have requested a court order to arrest ousted President Yoon Suk-yul while they investigate whether his December 3 martial law decree amounted to rebellion.

The Senior Officials Corruption Investigation Bureau, which is leading a joint investigation with police and military authorities into the power grab that lasted just a few hours, confirmed it had requested the arrest warrant on Monday. Investigators plan to question Yoon on charges of abuse of power and organizing a rebellion.

Yoon evaded several requests from the Joint Investigation Team and prosecutors to appear for questioning, and also prevented searches of his offices.

It is not clear whether the court will approve the arrest warrant or whether Yoon could be forced to appear for questioning.

Under the country’s laws, sites potentially linked to military secrets cannot be seized or searched without the consent of the person in charge, and Yoon is unlikely to leave his home voluntarily if he faces arrest.

Yoon’s presidential powers were suspended after the National Assembly voted to impeach him on December 14 for imposing martial law, which lasted only hours but sparked weeks of political unrest, halted high-level diplomacy and rattled financial markets. Yoon’s fate now rests with the Constitutional Court. Deliberations have begun on whether to uphold the impeachment and formally remove Yoon from office or reinstate him.

Yoon defended the martial law decree as a necessary governance measure, calling it a warning against the opposition Liberal Democratic Party, whose agenda is blocked by its majority in parliament.

Parliament last week voted to impeach Prime Minister Han Dak-soo, who assumed the role of acting president after Yoon’s powers were suspended, over his reluctance to fill three vacant positions on the Constitutional Court before the court reviews Yoon’s case.

The country’s new interim leader is Deputy Prime Minister Choi Sang-mok, who is also the finance minister.