SEOUL, South Korea – South Korea’s ousted President Yoon Suk Yeol was officially taken into custody early Sunday, merely days after his arrest at the presidential compound in Seoul. His potential imprisonment revolves around his controversial declaration of martial law last month.

Yoon’s incarceration may signal the onset of a lengthy detention period stretching into months. The decision to arrest him escalated tensions at the Seoul Western District Court, where his supporters wreaked havoc by damaging the main door and windows. Using plastic chairs and police shields they had seized, some supporters entered the court, throwing objects and discharging fire extinguishers.

The authorities deployed hundreds of officers to control the rioting at the court. Several individuals were arrested on-site during the confrontations, and some police personnel were seen receiving medical assistance in ambulance vans. Whether any court employees were harmed during the chaos remains unconfirmed.

Judge deliberated for 8 hours

After an intense eight-hour deliberation, the court granted the police’s request for an arrest warrant for Yoon, citing concerns that he posed a risk of evidence destruction. On Saturday, Yoon and his legal team appeared before the court to advocate for his release.

Currently in detention after a substantial law enforcement operation at his residence, Yoon could face rebellion charges tied to his martial law declaration made on December 3. This incident initiated the gravest political turmoil in South Korea since its democratization in the late 1980s.

The Corruption Investigation Office for High-Ranking Officials, collaborating with police and military forces on the investigation, now has the authority to keep Yoon detained for 20 days while the case transitions to public prosecutors for a possible indictment. Yoon’s legal team may also challenge the court’s arrest warrant via a petition.

Yoon’s presence in court prompted uproar in the streets nearby, where thousands of his loyal supporters gathered for hours demanding his release. Even prior to the warrant’s issuance, demonstrators confronted police, leading to multiple detentions, including around 20 individuals who attempted to breach a fence to reach the court. Additionally, at least two vehicles belonging to anti-corruption investigators were vandalized as they departed following the hearing.

During the near five-hour closed hearing on Saturday, Yoon spoke before the judge for about 40 minutes, with contrasting arguments presented by his defense team and anti-corruption officials regarding his continued custody.

Several key military figures, including Yoon’s defense minister and police chief, have already been arrested and indicted related to the implementation of the martial law.

Yoon’s lawyer decries his arrest

The crisis emerged when Yoon endeavored to break a legislative deadlock by imposing military control, dispatching troops to both the National Assembly and election offices. The situation unfolded quickly, as lawmakers who managed to bypass a blockade voted to revoke martial law shortly thereafter. Following this, the opposition-dominated assembly voted to impeach him on December 14.

Yoon’s political future now depends on the Constitutional Court, tasked with deciding whether to formally remove him from office or reinstate him.

One of Yoon’s lawyers, Seok Dong-hyeon, condemned the court’s decision to issue the arrest warrant as emblematic of “anti-constitutionalism and anti-rule of law,” emphasizing Yoon’s stance that his martial law order was a legitimate governance action. He also noted the disruptions at the Seoul Western District Court, warning that Yoon’s arrest would further inflame his supporters. The People Power Party, Yoon’s political entity, expressed regret over his detention but urged supporters to avoid violent actions.

Conversely, the liberal opposition Democratic Party, which spearheaded the impeachment efforts, asserted that Yoon’s arrest could serve as a vital step towards reinstating the country’s constitutional order.

Yoon was transported to the court from a detention center in Uiwang, close to Seoul, in a blue Justice Ministry vehicle accompanied by police and presidential security personnel for the warrant hearing. The motorcade entered the court’s underground parking as thousands of Yoon’s supporters rallied outside amid a substantial police presence. Following the court session, he was returned to the detention facility, where he awaits further developments and did not engage with media representatives.

After facing attacks from protesters, the anti-corruption agency later requested that media outlets obscure the identities of its members present at the hearing for safety reasons.

Yoon insists his martial law decree was legitimate

Yoon and his legal representatives defended the martial law declaration as a temporary and non-violent caution aimed at the opposition, which he accuses of impeding his policies due to its legislative control. He argues that the troops sent to the National Election Commission were tasked with investigating election fraud claims, although such assertions lack solid evidence in South Korea.

He has repeatedly stressed that his intent was not to disrupt legislative functions, instead claiming that the military presence was meant to ensure order, rather than to block lawmakers from voting to rescind the martial law. Yoon has refuted allegations of ordering the arrests of key political figures and electoral officials.

Contrastingly, military leaders have reported a targeted attempt to seize legislative power that was thwarted by civilians and assembly staff facilitating lawmakers’ entry, along with the military’s reluctance or refusal to heed Yoon’s directives.

Should prosecutors move to indict Yoon on rebellion and abuse of power charges currently under investigation, he could face up to six months of detention pending trial. If convicted in the initial court ruling, Yoon would serve any imposed sentence as the legal battle could advance to the Seoul High Court and then to the Supreme Court. Under South Korean law, orchestrating rebellion carries severe punishments, including life imprisonment or even the death penalty.