South Korea authorities request arrest warrant for impeached President Yoon

South Korea law enforcement authorities have requested an arrest warrant for President Yoon Suk Yeol after being impeached two weeks ago for his martial law decree.

The country's Corruption Investigation Office for High-Ranking Officials requested the warrant and plans to question Yoon on charges of abuse of authority and orchestrating a rebellion, according to the Associated Press. 

Yoon's lawyer has challenged the warrant request, arguing in court "an incumbent president cannot be prosecuted for abuse of power."

"Of course, there are differing academic opinions on whether a president can be investigated for abuse of power and some assert that investigations are possible, the lawyer continued, according to The Hill newspaper. "But even when investigations are allowed, the prevailing opinion is that they should be exercised with the utmost restraint.”

Yoon declared martial law Dec. 3, and South Korea’s parliament voted Dec. 14 to impeach him. The nation’s Constitutional Court is now deciding whether Yoon should be officially ousted from office. If he is, an election would be held within 60 days, the wire service also reports