
Supporters of impeached South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol created chaos early Sunday morning, storming the Western District Court in Seoul.
This incident unfolded just after the court issued a warrant for Yoon’s formal arrest, as reported by Yonhap News.
Clashes and Arrests
Video footage, though unconfirmed, indicates that protesters broke into the courthouse through a shattered window and an unsecured entryway.
Reports also reveal that some in the crowd clashed with law enforcement, using fire extinguishers and vandalizing property in their outburst of anger.
In response to the surging crowd, local authorities mobilized riot police, leading to the arrest of 40 individuals before the breach occurred.
Legal Proceedings Against Yoon
The legal proceedings against Yoon unfolded a day earlier, centered around accusations concerning his controversial martial law declaration from December.
Judge Cha Eun-kyung deemed the arrest warrant necessary amid concerns that Yoon might interfere with critical evidence related to the case.
This came after Yoon experienced a brief detention on Wednesday when prosecutors attempted to arrest him, thwarted by the Presidential Security Service.
Historical Context
Facing serious charges of insurrection and abuse of power, Yoon’s martial law declaration ignited significant political unrest, as the National Assembly quickly annulled the order just hours later.
The seriousness of the insurrection charges cannot be overstated; under South Korean law, they carry severe consequences, even the possibility of the death penalty.
As Yonhap reports, Yoon’s arrest marks a historic milestone—it’s unprecedented for a sitting president in South Korea to be taken into custody.
Following his arrest, he will enter pretrial detention, where standard procedures such as booking and being photographed will be conducted.
Reports suggest that, due to his high-profile status, he may be kept in solitary confinement.
Source: Jurist