Protestors storm court after it extends Yoon’s detention

Jan 20, 2025, 07:01 am

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Police officers try to remove a crowd of suspended President Yoon Suk-yeol’s supporters in front of the Seoul Western District Court on Jan. 19, 2025. Upon hearing the news of arrest warrant issuance around 3 a.m., some supporters became extremely violent and broke through the police barricades. / Source: Yonhap

AsiaToday reporter Jung Min-hoon

For the first time in South Korea’s constitutional history, a sitting president was arrested on Sunday. Supporters of President Yoon Suk-yeol, angered by the news of his arrest stormed the Seoul Western District Court early in the morning, engaging in violent actions. Some even destroyed property and sought out judges, escalating the situation into a violent incident. In response, President Yoon expressed concern over the physical confrontations and urged his supporters to express their opinions peacefully.

Judge Cha Eun-kyung of the Seoul Western District Court issued an arrest warrant for President Yoon at 2:50 a.m., citing concerns about evidence tampering. This occurred 47 days after the declaration of martial law on December 3 and four days after his arrest by the Corruption Investigation Office for High-ranking Officials (CIO).

Following the issuance of the arrest warrant, supporters waiting near the court reacted strongly, breaking through police barricades and smashing the court’s main entrance and windows. In the process, all the winds next to the court’s entrance were shattered, and the court’s nameplate was left dented and lying on the ground. The exterior tiles of the building were also damaged, exposing the building materials.

Authorities have classified this incident as a challenge to the rule of law and have arrested a total of 86 individuals for investigation. According to the police, 41 people reported injuries near the court, and 42 police officers were also injured, with five sustaining serious injuries. In a statement, President Yoon urged his supporters to avoid physical confrontations, stating, “Attempting to resolve issues through physical means can cause significant harm both nationally and personally.”

President Yoon expressed regret that the legitimate purpose of the martial law declaration, which was to prevent the collapse of South Korea’s constitutional order and normalize state functions, was not properly conveyed. He also expressed sorrow upon hearing that many young people were involved in the incident at the Seoul Western District Court early in the morning.

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