S. Korean president to comply with indictment, preliminary detention warrant

South Korean President Yoon Suk-yeol will comply with an indictment or preliminary detention warrant, Yoon's defense counsel said on Wednesday, following the extension of the arrest warrant against the impeached president the previous day.

The defense counsel told local reporters that Yoon intended to comply with a court trial after being indicted or if a preliminary detention warrant is sought.

The preliminary warrant is sought by prosecutors when it is impossible to immediately detain a suspect at large for up to 20 days. The warrant's valid period is determined by a judge at random, mostly for 10 days.

The counsel noted that Yoon would not comply with investigations through the "invalid" arrest warrant, saying the detention warrant should be issued by the Seoul Central District Court.

Yoon Kab-keun, one of Yoon's lawyers, denied suggestions by some members of parliament that Yoon had fled the official residence, saying he had met the president there on Tuesday.

He described these claims as "malicious rumors" intended to slander Yoon.

The Seoul Western District Court issued a second warrant on Tuesday to arrest Yoon for up to 48 hours, extending the validity of the first arrest warrant that expired on Monday.

Investigators attempted to arrest Yoon at the presidential residence on January 3, but the attempt failed as the presidential security service blocked the execution of the warrant.

The joint investigation unit was composed of the Corruption Investigation Office for High-ranking Officials, the National Office of Investigation and the defense ministry's investigative headquarters.

The National Assembly passed the impeachment motion against Yoon on December 14 last year, sending it to the constitutional court for deliberation for up to 180 days, during which Yoon's presidential powers would be suspended.

Yoon, named by investigative agencies as a suspected ringleader on an insurrection charge, declared martial law on the night of December 3, but it was revoked by the National Assembly hours later.

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(With input from agencies)