Yoon supporters break into South Korean court after it extends impeached president’s detention

Chaos erupted early on Sunday when supporters of suspended President Yoon Suk-yeol stormed the Seoul Seobu (Western) District Court following the issuance of an arrest warrant at 2.50am, due to concerns about evidence tampering related to a martial law decree from December 3. The court’s decision sparked immediate and violent protests. Around 100 rioters breached the courthouse, vandalised property, and attacked police officers and journalists, according to televised footage. Protesters, chanting Yoon’s name and slogans like “Revoke the arrest warrant,” tore down court signage, trampled them, scaled fences, and smashed windows. The unrest left 10 police officers and two journalists injured. Authorities arrested more than 80 protesters during clashes that spanned late Saturday to early Sunday. The riot, which lasted around three hours, was eventually quelled after 1,400 riot police were deployed. By 3am, news of Yoon’s arrest warrant had drawn hundreds of his supporters to the courthouse. Footage aired by KBS TV showed rioters overpowering police barricades, seizing plastic shields, and using them as improvised weapons. Protesters hurled fire extinguishers and shattered windows inside the courthouse while reportedly searching for the judge who authorised the arrest. YTN TV described the scene as “an effective occupation of the court building,” with some journalists fleeing after receiving death threats. Protesters accused the Corruption Investigation Office for High Officials (CIO), whose members attended the warrant hearing, of political bias. Demonstrators surrounded and vandalised CIO vehicles, shouting, “We caught commies here.” By 3.40am, police began clearing the mob from the courthouse, arresting several individuals who were later seen detained on the pavement. The Supreme Court condemned the violence as a serious threat to the rule of law, and called for “stern punishment” of those responsible. The CIO also issued a statement denouncing the violence: “We deeply regret this obstruction of legitimate law enforcement. We have requested the police to take stern measures against the perpetrators.” Yoon was detained in a dawn raid on Wednesday after he refused investigators’ summons, using his presidential security detail to resist arrest. He has vowed to “fight to the end,” and has described his supporters as “patriots” and dismissed the arrest warrant as politically motivated. He defended his martial law decree as a necessary measure to counter what he called “pro-North Korea” forces undermining democracy. Political Science Professor Lee Jun-han of Incheon National University said President Yoon’s outright dismissal of court rulings – including two arrest warrants against him and the rejection of a Constitutional Court justice linked to his martial law controversy – has sparked unrest. “The president should urge the public to respect court decisions, whether they agree with them or not. Instead, Yoon is doing the opposite, encouraging his supporters to reject rulings unfavourable to him,” Professor Lee told This Week in Asia. Political Science Professor Jhee Byong-kuen of Chosun University described the unrest as a “direct challenge” to South Korea’s democratic framework. “Yoon claimed his failed attempt to impose martial law was an effort to eradicate anti-state forces. Ironically, his current actions are fundamentally anti-state,” said Professor Jhee. “For Yoon, the only way out of prison is through amnesty by the next president and Yoon is apparently seeking to rally his supporters by challenging the justice system,” he said. Professor Jhee also attributed the unrest to South Korea’s increasing political divisions, worsened by extremist content on social media, which creates “information bubbles.” The Seoul Western District Court’s warrant allows investigators to keep Yoon in custody for up to 20 days, including time already spent in detention since Wednesday. The decision to extend his detention gives prosecutors time to formalise an indictment for insurrection. If convicted, he could face a life sentence or even the death penalty. Such an indictment would also mean Yoon would likely be detained for a maximum six months during the trial. If that court rules against him, Yoon will formally lose the presidency and elections will be called within 60 days. “This means the rule of law has all collapsed”, Yoon’s lawyers said in a statement over the impeached president’s prolonged detention while awaiting trial. They also blamed police for the violence by allegedly “provoking and attacking citizens”, while requesting Yoon’s supporters to “suppress anger and use peaceful means to make your case.” Kwon Sung-dong, the floor leader of Yoons’ ruling conservative People Power Party, said of the court actions: “The justice system’s authority and credibility have fallen flat”, while simultaneously calling for non-violence among protesters. Acting President Choi Sang-mok expressed “strong regret” over the violence, calling for a thorough investigation of the incident, which he said “directly undermined democracy and the rule of law.” Additional reporting by Agence France-Presse, Reuters

Yoon supporters break into South Korean court after it extends impeached president’s detention

Dozens of protesters were arrested for assaulting police, attacking journalists or attempting to enter the court building after Yoon Suk-yeol’s arrest warrant was issued