SEOUL, South Korea — Impeached South Korean President Yoon Seok-yeol was formally arrested early Sunday, days after he was arrested at the presidential palace in Seoul.
Yun’s arrest could mark the beginning of a lengthy period of detention lasting several months or more. He could be jailed following last month’s ill-fated declaration of martial law.
Following the decision to arrest Yoon, a riot erupted at the Seoul Western District Court, with dozens of Yoon’s supporters breaking into the court and causing a riot, smashing the main entrance and windows. They managed to wrest away the officers using plastic chairs, metal beams and police shields. They were seen throwing objects, using fire extinguishers and destroying furniture and glass doors. They shouted and demanded to see the judge who issued the warrant, but she had already left.
Hundreds of police officers were called in and nearly 90 demonstrators were arrested. Several injured police officers were also seen being treated in ambulances. The court said it was trying to determine whether any staff members were injured and assess the damage to the facility.
Deliberations in court lasted eight hours.
After eight hours of deliberations, the court approved the law enforcement agency’s request for an arrest warrant against Yoon, citing threats to destroy evidence. Yun and his lawyer appeared in court Saturday to argue for his release.
Yun, who has been in custody since his arrest Wednesday in a large-scale law enforcement operation on the premises of his home, faces sedition charges related to the Dec. 3 imposition of martial law. This martial law triggered the most serious political crisis since the beginning of national security. Democratization in the late 1980s.
South Korea’s president enjoys broad immunity from prosecution while in office, but that protection does not extend to charges of sedition or treason.
The High-level Corruption Investigation Service, which is leading a joint investigation between the police and military, was able to extend Yoon’s detention for 20 days, during which time it plans to transfer the case to the prosecutor’s office for prosecution.
Mr. Yoon’s lawyer may file an objection to the court’s arrest warrant.
Mr. Yun’s court appearance caused chaos in nearby streets, where thousands of enthusiastic supporters rallied for hours to demand his release. Even before the court issued a warrant for Yun’s arrest, demonstrators repeatedly clashed with police and detained dozens of people, including about 20 who climbed over the fence to get to the courthouse. After insisting on Yoon’s arrest, at least two vehicles carrying corruption investigators were damaged as they left the courtroom.
Yun’s lawyers said he spoke with the judge for about 40 minutes during Saturday’s closed-door hearing, which lasted about five hours. His legal team and anti-corruption authorities argued against whether he should be detained.
Mr. Yun’s defense minister, police chief, and several military officials have already been arrested and charged for their roles in enforcing martial law.
Yoon’s lawyer declares arrest
The crisis began when Yoon imposed military rule and dispatched troops to the National Assembly and election offices in an attempt to break the legislative deadlock. The stalemate lasted just hours after lawmakers who managed to break through the blockade voted in favor of lifting the bill. The opposition-dominated parliament voted to impeach him on December 14.
His political fate now rests with the Constitutional Court, which is considering whether to formally remove him from office or reinstate him.
One of Yoon’s lawyers, Seok Dong-hyun, called the court’s decision to issue the warrant “a typical example of anti-constitutionalism and anti-rule of law” and contradicted Yoon’s argument that martial law is a legitimate act of government. insisted. He pointed to the chaos at the Seoul Western Court and said Yoon’s arrest would further anger his supporters.
Yun’s People’s Strength Party regretted his arrest but appealed to his supporters to refrain from further violence.
The liberal opposition Democratic Party of Japan, which led the legislative effort to impeach Yoon on December 14, said Yoon’s arrest would be a “cornerstone for restoring the collapsed constitutional order.” Kim Seong-hoe, a party lawmaker and spokesperson, called for harsh punishment for Yoon’s supporters who stormed the court.
“We call on the police to resolutely enforce the law so that forces supporting the insurgency never think of causing chaos again,” he said.
Deputy Prime Minister Choi Sang-mok, the country’s acting leader, expressed “strong regret” over the violence in the courtroom, saying it “directly undermines democracy and the rule of law.” They called for increased security at the sites related to Yoon’s incident and to ensure orderly protests.
Mr. Yoon was transported from a detention center in Uiwang, near Seoul, to the court in a blue Ministry of Justice van, accompanied by police and members of the Presidential Security Bureau, to attend a court hearing prior to the warrant decision.
Under heavy police security, the motorcade entered the courthouse’s underground parking lot as thousands of Yoon’s supporters gathered in nearby streets. After the hearing, Mr. Yoon was returned to the detention center to await sentencing. He did not speak to reporters.
The anti-corruption agency asked news organizations to hide the faces of its members who attended public hearings after its investigators were attacked by protesters late Saturday.
Yun insists martial law was justified
Yun and his lawyers argue that the declaration of martial law was intended as a temporary and “peaceful” warning to the liberal opposition, and accuse him of interfering with his policies through the parliamentary majority. I am doing it. Yun said the troops dispatched to the National Election Commission office were to investigate allegations of election fraud, which remain unsubstantiated in South Korea.
Yun emphasized that he had no intention of suspending the functioning of the parliament. He said the military was sent in to maintain order and not to prevent lawmakers from entering and voting to lift martial law. He denied allegations that he ordered the arrest of key politicians and election officials.
However, military commanders have accused hundreds of civilians and legislative staff who helped lawmakers enter Congress and the military’s reluctance to disobey Yun’s orders, citing a deliberate attempt to seize control of Congress. He explains that he was prevented by the refusal.
If prosecutors indict Yoon on charges of sedition and abuse of power, he could be detained for up to six months pending trial on charges currently being investigated by investigative authorities.
If the first court is found guilty and sentenced to prison, the case could be moved to the Seoul High Court and the Supreme Court, where Yoon would serve his sentence. Under South Korean law, orchestrating a rebellion is punishable by life imprisonment or the death penalty.
