Lt. Gen. Kwak Jong-keun, head of the Army Special Warfare Command, attends a session of the parliamentary defense committee at the National Assembly in Seoul, Dec. 10. Yonhap

Prosecutors on Sunday sought an arrest warrant for the head of the Army Special Warfare Command over his role in President Yoon Suk Yeol's short-lived imposition of martial law.

Lt. Gen. Kwak Jong-keun, who sent special operations troops to the National Assembly after martial law was declared on Dec. 3, is accused of inciting a riot to subvert the Constitution by allegedly colluding with Yoon, former Defense Minister Kim Yong-hyun and others.

Prosecutors sought the arrest warrant for Kwak from a military court on charges of insurrection and abuse of power as their investigation into the martial law declaration picks up pace.

They reportedly filed the warrant by considering the gravity of the charges and concerns of him attempting to flee or tampering with evidence.

Last Tuesday, Kwak told lawmakers that he had been ordered by Kim on Dec. 1 to secure six locations, including the National Assembly, three offices of the National Election commission and the headquarters of the main opposition Democratic Party of Korea, just two days before the martial law declaration.

Kwak also said that he had been instructed by Yoon to break open doors and "drag out" lawmakers at the National Assembly during the imposition of martial law, but refused to follow orders after discussing them with troops at the site.

Despite Kwak's claim of defying orders, prosecutors still believe he played an important role in the alleged insurrection.

Kwak underwent questioning by the prosecution last Monday and Friday.

Officials who have been arrested over their alleged role during the imposition of martial law include former Defense Minister Kim Yong-hyun and Lt. Gen. Yeo In-hyung, chief of the Defense Counterintelligence Command. (Yonhap)