SEOUL, SOUTH KOREA - MAY 29: South Korean students clash with riot police during an anti-US rally in front of the US military base on May 29, 2005 in Seoul, South Korea. Over 1,000 students demanded the withdrawal U.S. troops based in the Korean peninsula.
Seoul, (EPICSTORIAN )– Chaos erupted outside the Seoul Western District Court after a judge extended the detention of President Yoon Suk Yeol, who remains embroiled in legal battles following his controversial attempt to impose martial law.
Tens of thousands of Yoon’s supporters, including right-wing activists and evangelical groups, had gathered outside the court on Saturday in a display of defiance, a US-based Media published.
When the ruling to extend his detention was announced at 3:00 AM (1800 GMT Saturday), demonstrators stormed the courthouse, smashing windows and forcing their way inside.
South Korean police swiftly intervened, deploying hundreds of officers to regain control. Law enforcement arrested dozens, denouncing what they called an “intolerable illegal and violent incident.” Acting Police Chief Lee Ho-young vowed a thorough investigation, particularly into right-wing YouTubers accused of instigating the attack.
Yoon’s Detention Sparks Political Crisis
Yoon, who was impeached in December after a failed six-hour martial law decree, was arrested in a dramatic pre-dawn raid earlier this week. Prosecutors argued that his release posed a risk of evidence tampering, prompting the court to extend his detention by 20 days.
The embattled leader has vowed to “fight to the end”, facing both an impeachment review by the Constitutional Court and a criminal probe for insurrection—charges that could result in life imprisonment or even the death penalty.
Yoon’s Supporters Echo US ‘Stop the Steal’ Movement
Many of Yoon’s backers claim, without evidence, that his martial law declaration was necessary to address alleged election fraud in last year’s legislative polls, which were won by the opposition. Adopting rhetoric similar to Donald Trump’s ‘Stop the Steal’ movement, they frequently wave American flags and accuse the opposition of a deep-state conspiracy.
In a message conveyed through his legal team on Friday, Yoon thanked his followers for their “passionate patriotism”, while his lawyer, Seok Dong-hyeon, warned them against escalating tensions. “This is likely not what President Yoon desires,” Seok stated, cautioning that further violence could “create burdens” for the president’s legal defense.
Next Steps: Impeachment Ruling and Indictment
Legal analysts say that storming a courthouse is unprecedented in South Korea and could result in harsh penalties for those involved. Lawyer Yoo Jung-hoon remarked that the judge’s decision to extend Yoon’s detention suggests a strong case for insurrection, particularly given his alleged attempts to destroy evidence.
With Yoon now back in detention, prosecutors are expected to move forward with formal charges for insurrection, which carry severe legal consequences.
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Meanwhile, the Constitutional Court’s ruling on his impeachment will determine whether he remains president or if South Korea must hold new elections within 60 days.
