New arrest warrant against Kim Yong-hyun: Martial law scandal!

New arrest warrant against Kim Yong-hyun: Martial law scandal!

The latest developments in South Korea are attracting global attention. On June 25, 2025, the Seoul court will decide on a new arrest warrant for former Defense Minister Kim Yong-hyun. Kim, who has been detained since December last year, faces serious allegations surrounding his role in former President Yoon Suk-yeol's temporary declaration of martial law. The upcoming hearing will examine whether there is a need and legality for a new arrest warrant.

Loud Yonhap News The hearing originally scheduled for Monday was postponed at Kim's request because he wanted to reject the judges. The court rejected this request, clarifying that it could be a delaying tactic. In addition to the arrest warrant, Kim was also hit with new charges, including obstruction of official acts and aiding and abetting the distillation of evidence. If no new arrest warrant is issued by the time his sentence ends on June 26, he could be released.

Criticism of crisis management

The background to this political turbulence is complex. Kim is accused of colluding with then-President Yoon Suk-yeol in the illegitimate declaration of martial law on December 3, 2024. This law was imposed for a few hours and caused an international stir. Many draw parallels to previous authoritarian governments in South Korea that took similar measures.

How The Conversation Reportedly, Yoon explained that the emergency measures were necessary to address an alleged opposition threat, which he linked to North Korea. With this regulation he tried to oppose the majority in parliament that deposed him on December 14, 2024. Another attempt to appoint him failed on December 7th because there were not enough votes for a two-thirds majority.

Problems for the political elites

The impact of this crisis affects not only the top politicians, but also the security forces: the Commissioner of the National Police, Cho Ji-ho, is also in focus as he was interrogated as a suspect in connection with these events. This is the first time a serving police chief in South Korea has gone on trial. Pressure is also growing on other senior officials, including Prime Minister Han Duck-soo, as they face the possibility of being held accountable.

Current events also raise questions about the future of the political landscape in South Korea. Opposition parties could find themselves in a stronger position while the government is criticized for endangering not only public safety but also trust in institutions.

The developments therefore remain exciting and could have a decisive influence on political stability in South Korea. It remains to be seen whether the allegations against the former minister and the ongoing investigations against the former president will change the political scene. South Korean society seems to be interested in both clarifying the incidents and reforming the political structures.

For more information, see the articles from K-Pop Alerts and Yonhap News.