A South Korean court on Tuesday issued an arrest warrant for impeached President Yoon Suk Yeol who was stripped of his presidential powers over the implementation of a short-lived martial law decree that plunged the nation into political chaos.

He is now the first South Korean President to face arrest.

The Seoul Western District Court approved a request from the Corruption Investigation Office for High-ranking Officials (CIO) to issue the warrant against Yoon on charges of masterminding the botched Dec. 3 martial law declaration, orchestrating the insurrection and abusing power, sources told Yonhap news agency.

The court also approved a warrant to search the presidential residence of Yoon in Seoul.

The CIO issued the detention warrant against Yoon after he ignored all three summonses to appear before the court for questioning over the martial law invocation.

CIO officials are expected to visit Yoon's residence soon to execute the warrant, Yonhap news agency.

South Korea has been facing a political crisis ever since Yoon and his successor were impeached.

Investigators have a time limit till January 6 to execute the warrant.

The opposition leaders also voted to impeach Han who had stepped in to act as President following Yoon's suspension.