South Korea’s impeached president, Yoon Suk Yeol, appeared in court on Saturday for a critical hearing to determine whether his detention will be extended as investigators look into his attempted martial law declaration.
Yoon arrived at the Seoul Western District Court amid a heavy security presence, as loyal supporters rallied outside the building. Some attempted to block the president’s transport vehicle, demanding his release.
The former leader was impeached by parliament following a failed attempt to impose martial law on December 3, which plunged the nation into turmoil.
Citing threats from anti-state elements, Yoon’s declaration lasted only six hours before lawmakers overwhelmingly rejected it, despite his order for soldiers to storm parliament to halt the vote.
After weeks of resisting arrest from his guarded residence, Yoon was finally detained during a pre-dawn raid on Wednesday. He is South Korea’s first sitting president to be taken into custody.
Yoon’s initial 48-hour detention period expired on Friday, prompting prosecutors to seek an additional arrest warrant that could extend his detention by 20 days. The judge’s decision on the warrant is expected late Saturday or early Sunday.
The president’s lawyer, Yoon Kab-keun, stated that his client attended the hearing to restore his honour. However, the disgraced leader has refused to cooperate with investigators and has not answered questions since his arrest, maintaining that the investigation is unlawful.
The Corruption Investigation Office (CIO) charges Yoon with insurrection, a crime punishable by life imprisonment or execution. Simultaneously, the Constitutional Court is reviewing his impeachment, with a ruling against Yoon likely leading to his removal from office and the calling of new elections within 60 days.
Despite these mounting legal challenges, Yoon’s supporters have continued their protests, waving South Korean and American flags and urging the court to dismiss the arrest extension request. For safety reasons, the court restricted public access to its premises on Friday night.
Yoon’s arrest has been celebrated by the opposition Democratic Party, which holds a parliamentary majority.
A senior party official described it as the first step in restoring constitutional order.
On Friday, parliament passed a bill to initiate a special investigation into Yoon’s failed martial law bid.
Although Yoon was elected president in 2022, his administration has faced intense scrutiny and opposition, culminating in this unprecedented political and legal crisis.
