Impeached South Korean President appears for arrest warrant hearing
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Yoon, who has maintained that his arrest is unlawful, has plunged the nation into turmoil on December 3 when he sought to suspend civilian rule.
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Presidential security service vehicles within the compound of the presidential residence as seen from a hill early on Jan. 15. (AFP via Getty Images)
Impeached South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol appeared in court for the first time on Saturday to attend a hearing that will determine whether his detention will be extended as investigators examine his failed attempt to impose martial law.
Yoon, who has maintained that his arrest is unlawful, plunged the nation into turmoil on December 3 when he sought to suspend civilian rule, citing threats from "anti-state elements".
Supporters of Yoon gathered outside the court, with some attempting to surround the blue van carrying the embattled leader, according to AFP reporters.
The martial law attempt lasted only six hours, as lawmakers voted against it despite Yoon's order for soldiers to storm parliament to block the vote. He was subsequently impeached and resisted arrest for weeks, staying in his guarded residence until authorities detained him in a dawn raid on Wednesday.
Yoon, the first sitting South Korean president to be detained, has refused to cooperate during the initial 48 hours allowed for questioning. Investigators requested a new warrant on Friday to extend his detention, and a judge from the Seoul Western District Court was set to review the request at a hearing scheduled for 2:00 pm (0500 GMT). A decision was expected later that evening or early Sunday.
Ahead of the hearing, Yoon's lawyer, Yoon Kab-keun, told AFP that the president would attend "with the intention of restoring his honor." If granted, the warrant could extend Yoon’s detention by 20 days, giving prosecutors time to file formal charges.
The Corruption Investigation Office (CIO) is investigating Yoon for insurrection, a charge that carries penalties of life imprisonment or even execution if proven guilty.
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Following his arrest, Yoon stated that he left his residence to avoid "bloodshed" but did not accept the legality of the investigation. His supporters have rallied outside the court since Friday, waving South Korean and US flags and demanding that judges deny the request to prolong his detention.
For safety reasons, the court restricted public access on Friday evening. Meanwhile, Yoon has remained silent during questioning, with his legal team asserting that he had clarified his stance when detained.
Yoon has also abstained from participating in a parallel Constitutional Court probe that will decide whether his impeachment will stand. If upheld, Yoon will be removed from office, and new elections will be held within 60 days. While the trial could continue for months, the president has missed the first two hearings this week.
Although Yoon won the 2022 presidential election, the opposition Democratic Party holds a parliamentary majority after securing last year’s legislative elections. Democratic Party leaders celebrated Yoon's detention, with one senior official calling it "the first step" in restoring constitutional and legal order.
Adding to Yoon’s troubles, parliament approved a bill late Friday to initiate a special counsel investigation into his failed martial law attempt.
It is noteworthy that the political turmoil has caused economic strain, particularly on the won currency. The central bank's governor emphasized that the key to the economy's future health is stabilizing the political situation, noting that restoring political normalcy is more crucial than adjusting interest rates.
