SEOUL, South Korea — An impeached South Korean president arrived at a court in Seoul on Saturday to contest a request for his arrest, which stems from the recent imposition of martial law. Yoon, who has been in custody since being taken into custody during a significant law enforcement operation at his home, is facing serious charges, including potential rebellion linked to his declaration of martial law on December 3. This action has triggered the most severe political crisis the nation has seen since it embraced democracy in the late 1980s.
The Corruption Investigation Office for High-Ranking Officials is spearheading a joint investigation with local police and military support, seeking a warrant for Yoon’s formal arrest from the Seoul Western District Court. During a hearing set for 2 p.m. today, Yoon is expected to contend that there is no justification for his custody while the investigation is ongoing. A ruling from the judge is anticipated either late Saturday or early Sunday.
Yoon was brought to court from a detention facility in Uiwang, located near Seoul, in a blue vehicle operated by the Justice Ministry, and was escorted by police and security personnel. As his motorcade arrived at the court’s underground parking area, hundreds of his supporters gathered outside, demonstrating with banners and chanting slogans advocating for his release, all under tight police surveillance.
Before entering the courtroom, Yoon did not address the media. One of his attorneys, Yoon Kab-keun, revealed through a text that the president had agreed to personally appear before the judge, agreeing with his legal team’s strategy. In his defense, Yoon plans to assert that his martial law decree was a rightful exercise of his authority, claiming that the rebellion charges will not hold in either a criminal court or the Constitutional Court, which is currently evaluating whether to finalize Yoon’s removal from office or allow his reinstatement, according to his lawyer.
Should Yoon be arrested, investigators are authorized to prolong his detention for up to 20 days, after which they would forward the case to public prosecutors for possible indictment. Conversely, if the court declines the arrest request, Yoon would be released and allowed to return home.
Furthermore, nine individuals involved in the operation of martial law, including Yoon’s defense minister, police chief, and several senior military officials, have already been arrested and indicted.
The turmoil began when Yoon attempted to overcome legislative deadlock by imposing military rule, dispatching troops to the National Assembly and various electoral offices. The situation lasted only a few hours; lawmakers managed to breach the blockade and voted to repeal the martial law order. Subsequently, the opposition-dominated Assembly voted for Yoon’s impeachment on December 14.
If Yoon is formally detained, it could lead to a substantial duration of imprisonment, potentially extending for months. Should prosecutors indict him on charges of rebellion and abuse of power—which investigators are currently examining—they could retain him in custody for as long as six months pending trial. Under South Korean law, orchestrating a rebellion can carry severe penalties, including life imprisonment or the death sentence.
Yoon’s legal team argues that his detention is unnecessary for the investigation, citing that he poses no danger of fleeing or tampering with evidence. However, investigators counter that Yoon has disregarded several requests for questioning and that the presidential security service thwarted an attempt to detain him on January 3, raising concerns regarding his willingness to cooperate with judicial proceedings if not held in custody.
