Police stand guard as supporters of impeached South Korean President Yoon Seok-yeol try to enter the Western District Court in Seoul, Saturday, January 18, 2025. An Yongjun/Associated Press hide title
SEOUL, South Korea — Impeached South Korean President Yoon Seok-yeol was arrested at the presidential palace in Seoul early Sunday and formally arrested days later. He faces possible jail time following the unfortunate declaration of martial law last month.
Yin's arrest could mark the beginning of his long-term detention, lasting several months or more.
The decision to arrest Yoon sparked a riot at the Western District Court in Seoul, with dozens of Yoon supporters destroying the court's doors and windows. They used plastic chairs and police shields and managed to take these shields away from the police. Some people entered the hallway and were seen throwing objects and using fire extinguishers.
Hundreds of police officers were deployed to quell the riots. Dozens of people were arrested on the spot, and some injured police officers were treated in ambulances. It was unclear whether any court staff were injured.
After an hour of deliberations, the court granted law enforcement's request for an arrest warrant against Yin, arguing that he had threatened to destroy evidence. Yin and his lawyers appeared before a court judge at a hearing on Saturday and argued for his release.
Yoon, who has been detained since being arrested in a massive law enforcement operation in his residential area on Wednesday, may face rebellion charges related to his Dec. 3 declaration of martial law, which triggered the country's worst outbreak since its founding. Political crisis. democratization in the late 1980s.
The Office for the Investigation of Senior Officials' Corruption, which is investigating jointly with the police and military, can now extend Yin's detention to 20 days, during which time they will hand the case over to prosecutors for prosecution.
Yin's lawyers can also file a petition challenging the court's arrest warrant.
Yoon's court appearance sparked chaotic scenes in nearby streets, as thousands of his fervent supporters rallied for hours demanding his release. Even before the court issued an arrest warrant for Yin, protesters repeatedly clashed with police, who detained dozens of people, including about 20 who scaled a fence to try to approach the court. At least two vehicles carrying anti-corruption investigators were damaged as they left court after defending Yin's arrest.
Yin's lawyer said he spoke with the judge for about 40 minutes during Saturday's nearly five-hour closed-door hearing. His legal team and anti-corruption agencies have made counterarguments over whether he should be detained. Lawyers did not agree with his specific comments.
After the hearing, Yin was returned to the detention center to await a decision. Neither Yin nor his attorney immediately commented on the arrest warrant.
Yoon was escorted by police and presidential security services in a blue Justice Department van from a detention center in Uiwang, near Seoul, to the court to attend a hearing ahead of a court decision on the arrest warrant.
Despite a heavy police presence, thousands of Yin's supporters gathered in nearby streets and the motorcade entered the courthouse's basement parking lot. Some protesters broke through police lines and banged on the windows of his van as it approached the courthouse. Yin did not speak to reporters.
The anti-corruption body asked media companies to cover the faces of members attending the hearing late Saturday after investigators were attacked by protesters.
Yoon Kab-keun, one of the president's lawyers, said he planned to argue to judges that his decree was a legitimate exercise of power and that the rebellion charge would not stand up in the criminal or constitutional courts. Review whether to formally remove him or reinstate him.
Yin's defense minister, police chief and several top military commanders have been arrested and indicted for their roles in enforcing martial law.
The crisis began when Yoon tried to break the legislative deadlock by imposing military rule and sending troops to Congress and election offices. The deadlock lasted only a few hours after lawmakers who had managed to break the blockade voted to lift the measure. The opposition-dominated parliament voted to impeach him on December 14.
If prosecutors charge Yoon with rebellion and abuse of power, charges that investigators are reviewing, they could detain him for up to six months before trial.
Under South Korean law, planning a rebellion is punishable by life imprisonment or death.
Yin's lawyers argued that there was no need to detain him during the investigation, saying he posed no threat to flee or destroy evidence.
Investigators responded that Yoon ignored several requests to appear in court for questioning, and the presidential security service blocked his detention on January 3. His defiance raised concerns about whether he would have complied with criminal court proceedings if he had not been arrested.