Crowds attack Seoul court over president's arrest warrant
Jan 20, 2025
Seoul [South Korea], January 20: According to Reuters, a crowd of supporters of South Korean President Yoon Suk-yeol stormed the Seoul Western District Court on January 19 after a judge there decided to extend the detention of the leader who is being impeached for declaring martial law on the night of December 3, 2024.
Before the verdict, tens of thousands of people gathered outside the court to show support for Mr. Yoon. After the court announced the decision at 3 a.m. on January 19 (local time), hundreds of angry supporters stormed the courthouse, smashing windows and everything in their path. Some participants live-streamed the attack on YouTube, and police arrested several people during the livestream.
It took police several hours to restore order at the scene and announced the arrest of 46 protesters on the spot. Yonhap news agency reported that nine police officers were injured in the chaos, while about 40 protesters suffered minor injuries. Seok Dong-hyeon, a lawyer representing President Yoon opposed the court's extension of his detention, citing concerns that Yoon might destroy evidence, while warning the leader's supporters not to take any action that would complicate the situation.
On the same day, the Ministry of Justice announced that after being officially arrested, Mr. Yoon will have to wear a prisoner's uniform with a number on his chest while being detained at the Seoul Detention Center in Uiwang City (Gyeonggi Province). The Korea Times quoted information from the Seoul Detention Center as saying that for the next 20 days, President Yoon will be detained in a 10 square meter isolated cell.
Source: Thanh Nien Newspaper
