A vehicle belonging to police investigators is seen outside the presidential safe house in Seoul, Dec. 27. Yonhap

A joint investigation team seeks a search warrant against President Yoon Suk Yeol, along with a warrant for his arrest, as part of its investigation into his brief imposition of martial law, a police official said Monday.

The team, composed of the Corruption Investigation Office for High-ranking Officials, the police and the defense ministry's investigation unit, filed for both warrants with the Seoul Western District Court at midnight Sunday, according to the official.

The announcement came shortly after the team disclosed it had filed the warrant for Yoon's arrest on insurrection and abuse of power charges after he ignored three summonses to appear for questioning.

"Questioning can take place if (the president) appears before a warrant is issued, but once it is issued, it has to be executed," the official at the National Office of Investigation told reporters.

When asked about the presidential security service possibly refusing to cooperate with a warrant even if it is issued, the official said the team plans to prepare by "thoroughly" taking considerations after a warrant is issued.

Police had earlier attempted to seize security camera footage at the presidential safe house and the presidential office but failed to secure them as the security service did not cooperate.

Investigators say Yoon led an insurrection and abused his power when he declared martial law on Dec. 3 and allegedly ordered troops to the National Assembly to stop lawmakers from voting down the decree.

Yoon has denied the charges, saying his declaration of martial law was an "act of governance" to warn the opposition party against what he described as its abuse of legislative power. (Yonhap)