• Former South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol is arrested again over a failed martial law attempt.
• The Seoul Central District Court issued a warrant citing potential evidence tampering as a key concern.
• Yoon is facing multiple charges, including insurrection, which could lead to life imprisonment or death.

South Korea's former President Yoon Suk Yeol has been arrested for a second time following a court ruling on July 10, with authorities citing concerns that he might destroy evidence related to his controversial attempt to impose martial law last December. The Seoul Central District Court's decision was influenced by a request from special prosecutor Cho Eun-suk, aiming to expedite investigations into Yoon's actions, which have been deemed as obstruction of justice and abuse of power, according to Reuters and SCMP.

At the crux of this legal turmoil are allegations that Yoon’s martial law decree interrupted civilian governance by deploying soldiers to prevent parliamentary action. His initial arrest in January followed a failed attempt to detain him at his residence, leading to a highly publicized standoff with law enforcement, as described by Channel News Asia and BBC.

During the recent seven-hour court hearing, Yoon denied all allegations surrounding his martial law declaration, including claims of crisis management achieved through coercive means and accusations of falsifying documents. His legal team characterized the arrest request as unreasonable and lacking sufficient evidence, particularly since he has been stripped of political authority post-impeachment, according to India Times and Le Monde.

Yoon's previous release in March had raised eyebrows as public sentiment grew frustrated with perceived leniency towards powerful figures accused of serious misconduct. His current legal predicament may signal an intensifying crackdown post-tenure, especially following the election of his liberal successor, President Lee Jae Myung, who has actively pursued additional investigations related to Yoon’s administration, as highlighted by NPR and Al Jazeera.