SEOUL – A South Korean military court on Monday issued separate arrest warrants for the chief of Capital Defense Command and the head of the Army Special Warfare Command as it investigates a short-lived martial law announced by the now-impeached President Yoon Suk-yeol earlier this month, Yonhap news agency reported.

The development came as the country’s constitutional court picked Cheong Hyung-sik, widely seen as conservative, as a presiding justice for Yoon’s impeachment case, multiple media outlets reported on Monday.

The military court issued an arrest warrant for Lee Jin-woo, head of the Capital Defense Command, citing a flight risk and possible destruction of evidence, the Yonhap report said.

ALSO READ: S. Korean prosecution says impeached president Yoon defied summons

Lee is accused of sending troops to seal off the National Assembly under the command of the former defense minister after martial law was declared.

In the meantime, the court issued another arrest warrant for Kwak Jong-keun, the head of the Army Special Warfare Command, who sent special operations troops to the parliament during the martial law declaration.

Kwak is accused of inciting a riot to subvert the Constitution by allegedly colluding with Yoon, former Defense Minister Kim Yong-hyun and others, Yonhap said.

The two military commanders have been suspended from their duties by the defense ministry, according to a previous Yonhap report.

Meanwhile, the constitutional court picked Cheong, who was nominated and appointed by Yoon and took office in December 2023, as the presiding justice for Yoon’s impeachment case through random computer selections.

The constitutional court is composed of nine justices, including three nominated by the president, three nominated by the chief justice of the Supreme Court and three nominated by the National Assembly.

Two incumbent justices were nominated by former liberal President Moon Jae-in, while two justices were nominated by the former chief justice of the Supreme Court.

The main liberal opposition Democratic Party recommended two justice nominees, while the governing conservative People Power Party suggested one candidate as three justices are currently vacant.

READ MORE: South Korea's President Yoon impeached over martial law bid

Prime Minister Han Duck-soo, who became acting president after Yoon's impeachment in the National Assembly, has the right to appoint the nominees after parliamentary hearings and vote on the candidates later this month.

The second motion to impeach Yoon was passed through the National Assembly on Saturday and was delivered to the constitutional court to deliberate it for up to 180 days, during which Yoon's presidential power will be suspended.

Yoon was named by investigative agencies as a suspect on a rebellion charge following his martial law imposition on the night of Dec 3 which was revoked by the National Assembly hours later.

At least two-thirds of the 9-member constitutional court should rule in favor of the impeachment to remove Yoon from office.

If the court upholds the impeachment, a snap presidential election will be held within 60 days, but otherwise, Yoon will immediately be reinstated.