South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol has become the first sitting president to be arrested as he faces allegations of insurrection related to his martial law declaration. The court extended his detention, which Yoon had requested to prevent him from destroying evidence.
Yoon’s supporters stormed a court building in Seoul early on Sunday, smashing windows and breaking inside. Police arrested 46 people, with nine officers injured and about 40 suffering minor injuries. The protesters were overwhelming riot police trying to keep them at bay, blasting fire extinguishers and flooding the interior of the building.
Acting President Choi Sang-mok called the violence “unimaginable” and vowed to step up safety measures around gatherings. Yoon’s lawyers said he was “shocked and unfortunate” by the incident, calling on people to express their opinions peacefully.
The arrest has sparked a political crisis in South Korea, with the Constitutional Court deliberating whether to permanently remove Yoon from office or restore his presidential powers. The main opposition Democratic Party has expressed support for extending Yoon’s detention, while Yoon’s conservative People Power Party has criticized the decision as a “great pity”.
Yoon faces insurrection charges, which are punishable by death in South Korea. However, the country has not executed anyone in nearly 30 years. The arrest has also highlighted a sharp rebound in support for the PPP, which had previously collapsed after Yoon’s martial law declaration.
Source: https://www.reuters.com/world/asia-pacific/south-korean-court-grants-extension-president-yoons-detention-2025-01-18