Protesters storm South Korea court after president’s detention extended

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Supporters of South Korean President Yoon Seok-yul stormed a court in Seoul on Sunday after a judge extended the impeached leader’s detention over his ill-fated attempt to impose martial law.

Yun said he was “deeply shocked and saddened” by the pre-dawn attack on the court, where his supporters smashed windows and doors.

Tens of thousands of people rallied outside the Seoul Western District Court on Saturday in support of the president, who became the first sitting South Korean head of state to be arrested in an early-morning raid this week.

AFP journalists saw hundreds of police officers charge into court, with the force arresting dozens and denouncing an “intolerable lawless and violent incident”.

The incident is the latest episode in South Korea’s escalating political crisis that erupted on Dec. 3, when Yoon declared martial law and sent troops into parliament.

His attempt to suspend civilian rule lasted only six hours when lawmakers refused to vote for the troops. Later he impeached the President, suspending him from duty.

Yun vowed to remain “regardless of how long it takes to remedy any injustice” despite a constitutional court ruling on his impeachment and a criminal investigation that has seen him detained on Sunday. What did

Announcing that investigators could hold Yoon for another 20 days, a court in Seoul told AFP there were concerns he could destroy evidence if released.

The president said he would try to show “the purpose and justification of the declaration of martial law” in a statement released Sunday by his lawyers.

His supporters have claimed that Yun’s decision was justified by electoral fraud in the legislative elections won by the opposition last year, for which they offer no evidence.

They often wave American flags and adopt the “stop stealing” narrative associated with US President-elect Donald Trump, whose supporters stormed the Capitol in Washington to try to overturn his previous election defeat.

Acting police chief Lee Ho-ying said the force would “thoroughly investigate right-wing YouTubers if they were involved in this violent break-in” after the live-streaming of the attack.

‘Anger of many citizens’

After the attack on the court, Yoon said he saw “the deep frustration and anger of many citizens”.

His lawyer Seok Dong-hyeon criticized the judge’s decision, as well as warned the president’s supporters not to make the situation worse.

The lawyer said in a statement that such violence could also “burden” future trials of the president.

Yoo Jung-hoon, a lawyer and political columnist, said the court attack was “unprecedented” in South Korea and that those involved could face prison terms.

Yu told AFP that the judge was expected to keep the president in prison “given the overwhelming evidence supporting the treason charges”.

“The court also placed significant weight on Yun’s efforts to destroy evidence as head of state”.

After Yoon is back behind bars after a court appearance on Saturday, prosecutors are set to file criminal charges for sedition.

The disgraced leader, who has said he does not accept the legitimacy of the investigation, could face life imprisonment or execution if convicted.

He refused to attend the questioning on Sunday, the corruption investigation office said, which plans to summon him again at 10:00 a.m. (0100 GMT) on Monday.

Yun has meanwhile been absent from a parallel investigation at the Constitutional Court, which is considering whether to uphold his impeachment.

If that court rules against him, Yun would formally lose the presidency and an election would be called within 60 days.