A Ministry of Justice transport vehicle carrying President Yoon heads to the Seoul Detention Center leaving the Seoul Western District Court where he attended an arrest warrant hearing, Seoul, Jan. 18. Yonhap

The presidential office on Sunday criticized a court's decision to issue a warrant to formally arrest President Yoon Suk Yeol over his failed martial law bid.

The court's decision came days after Yoon was detained for questioning over his Dec. 3 martial law decree, which has plunged Korea into unprecedented political turmoil.

Chung Jin-suk, Yoon's chief of staff, also appeared to defend the impeachment president's martial law bid, saying people would come to determine whether the declaration of martial law was a riot to violate the constitutional order or an emergency measure to uphold it.

Also on Sunday, Chung convened a meeting of senior presidential aides and pledged to support the government in handling diplomatic and security affairs.

"We also decided to cooperate with the Cabinet in safely managing the high exchange rate, high interest and high oil prices," the presidential office said in a statement. (Yonhap)