Yoon supporters storm South Korean court after detention extended | Court News

A Seoul court granted the arrest warrant request, saying there were “concerns” that Yoon might “destroy evidence.”

A South Korean court extended the detention of President Yoon Suk-yeol for up to 20 days, sparking violent protests by hundreds of angry supporters who stormed the court building, smashed windows and entered through break-in.

Shortly after the court’s decision was announced, around 3 a.m. Sunday (6 p.m. GMT Saturday), his supporters invaded the building, overwhelming riot police who were trying to keep them at bay.

Yoon last week became the first sitting South Korean president to be arrested as he faces insurrection allegations linked to his astonishing and short-lived declaration of martial law on Dec. 3 that plunged the country into turmoil. political turmoil.

Footage showed protesters firing fire extinguishers at lines of police guarding the main entrance, before flooding the interior, destroying office equipment and furniture.

Yoon and his lawyers appeared before the court judge at a hearing on Saturday and argued for his release. His arrest could mark the start of a long period of detention, which could last months or more.

He faces potential charges of rebellion linked to his declaration of martial law on December 3, which triggered the most serious political crisis the country has seen since its democratization in the late 1980s.

The Senior Officials Corruption Investigation Bureau, which is conducting a joint investigation with the police and military, can now extend his detention to 20 days, during which time it will forward the case to the prosecutor for indictment.

Yoon’s lawyers could also file a motion to challenge the court’s arrest warrant.

“I will never give up”

The leader is expected to continue to be held in an isolation cell at the Seoul Detention Center.

“President Yoon Suk Yeol and our legal team will never give up,” lawyers representing Yoon, who called the criminal investigation invalid, said in a statement.

“We will do our best in all future legal proceedings to correct the errors,” the lawyers said, adding that the violence in court was an “unfortunate” incident.

Yoon’s conservative People Power Party (PPP) called the court’s decision “very unfortunate.”

“The question arises whether the repercussions of detaining a sitting president have been sufficiently considered,” the party said in a statement.

But the main opposition Democratic Party called the court’s approval of the mandate a “cornerstone” for rebuilding order and said the “riots” by “far-right” groups would only worsen the national crisis.

Support for the PPP collapsed after its declaration of martial law, which it rescinded hours later in the face of a unanimous vote in Parliament rejecting it. Lawmakers impeached Yoon on Dec. 14, suspending his presidential powers.