Camille Naredo

An effigy of South Korea's impeached President Yoon Suk Yeol is seen in a mock prison as protesters take part in a rally calling for Yoon's ouster in front of the Gwanghwamun Gate of Gyeongbokgung Palace in Seoul on December 21, 2024. Jung Yeon-je, AFP/File

An effigy of South Korea's impeached President Yoon Suk Yeol is seen in a mock prison as protesters take part in a rally calling for Yoon's ouster in front of the Gwanghwamun Gate of Gyeongbokgung Palace in Seoul on December 21, 2024. (Photo by Jung Yeon-je / AFP)

Article (news)

SOUTH KOREA

Agence France-Presse

<div><span class="fr-img-caption fr-fic fr-dib" style="width:960px"><span class="fr-img-wrap"><img src="https://od2-image-api.abs-cbn.com/prod/editorImage/1737182572247AFP__20241221__36R29WN__v1__Preview__SkoreaPoliticsUnrest.jpg" style="width:960px" class="fr-fic fr-dib" alt="An effigy of South Korea&#x27;s impeached President Yoon Suk Yeol is seen in a mock prison as protesters take part in a rally calling for Yoon&#x27;s ouster in front of the Gwanghwamun Gate of Gyeongbokgung Palace in Seoul on December 21, 2024. Jung Yeon-je, AFP/File"/><span class="fr-inner" style="text-align:left">An effigy of South Korea&#x27;s impeached President Yoon Suk Yeol is seen in a mock prison as protesters take part in a rally calling for Yoon&#x27;s ouster in front of the Gwanghwamun Gate of Gyeongbokgung Palace in Seoul on December 21, 2024. <em>Jung Yeon-je, AFP/File</em></span></span></span></div><p>SEOUL, South Korea -- Impeached South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol arrived at court for the first time Saturday to attend a hearing that will decide whether to extend his detention as investigators probe his failed martial law bid.</p><p>Yoon, who has claimed his arrest is illegal, threw the nation into chaos on December 3 when he attempted to suspend civilian rule, citing the need to combat threats from &quot;anti-state elements&quot;.</p><p>Yoon&#x27;s die-hard supporters gathered outside the court building Saturday, even trying to surround the blue van carrying the suspended leader, AFP reporters saw.</p><p>Yoon&#x27;s martial law bid lasted just six hours, with lawmakers voting it down despite the president ordering soldiers to storm parliament to stop them.</p><p>Yoon was subsequently impeached by parliament and resisted arrest for weeks, holed up in his guarded residence until he was finally detained Wednesday in a dawn raid.</p><div><a class="fr-green fr-strong" href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/world/2025/1/14/clashes-as-s-korean-investigators-attempt-to-arrest-president-yoon-0609">READ: South Korean President Yoon arrested over failed martial law bid</a></div><p>South Korea&#x27;s first sitting president to be detained, Yoon has refused to cooperate during the initial 48 hours detectives were allowed to hold him.</p><p>But the disgraced president remains in custody after investigators requested a new warrant Friday to extend his detention.</p><p>A judge at Seoul Western District Court was set to review the request at a 2:00 pm (0500 GMT) hearing, with her decision expected Saturday night or early Sunday.</p><p>Before the hearing, Yoon&#x27;s lawyer Yoon Kab-keun told AFP the president would attend &quot;with the intention of restoring his honour&quot;.</p><p>If approved, the new warrant would likely extend Yoon&#x27;s detention by 20 days, giving prosecutors time to formalise an indictment.</p><p>The Corruption Investigation Office (CIO) is probing Yoon for insurrection, a charge that could see him jailed for life or executed if found guilty.</p><div><a class="fr-green fr-strong" href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/world/2025/1/15/south-korea-s-six-weeks-of-political-chaos-1121">READ: South Korea&#x27;s six weeks of political chaos</a></div><div><strong>- Detention silence -</strong></div><script data-wid="auto" type="text/javascript" src="https://content.viralize.tv/display/?zid=AAEyze-tm4MR6kEa&amp;cid=ABTNy6X6hUC96n65&amp;activation=click&amp;vip_mode=playing&amp;vip_position=bottom-right"></script><p>Yoon said Wednesday he had agreed to leave his compound to avoid &quot;bloodshed&quot;, but that he did not accept the legality of the investigation.</p><p>His supporters have gathered in front of the court since Friday, holding South Korean and American flags and demanding judges dismiss the request to extend the president&#x27;s detention.</p><p>The court closed its entrance to the public Friday evening, citing safety concerns.</p><p>Yoon has refused to answer investigators&#x27; questions, with his legal team saying the president explained his position when detained on Wednesday.</p><p>The president has also been absent from a parallel probe at the Constitutional Court, which is mulling whether to uphold his impeachment.</p><p>If the court rules against Yoon, he will lose the presidency and elections will be called within 60 days.</p><div><a class="fr-green fr-strong" href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/world/2025/1/17/south-korea-s-yoon-refuses-questioning-again-1641">READ: South Korea&#x27;s Yoon refuses questioning again</a></div><p>He did not attend the first two hearings this week, but the trial, which could last months, will continue in his absence.</p><p>Although Yoon won the presidential election in 2022, the opposition Democratic Party has a majority in parliament after winning legislative polls last year.</p><p>The Democratic Party has celebrated the president&#x27;s arrest, with a top official calling it &quot;the first step&quot; to restoring constitutional and legal order.</p><p>As challenges against the embattled leader mount, parliament passed a bill late Friday to launch a special counsel probe into Yoon over his failed martial law bid.</p><div><strong>© Agence France-Presse</strong></div>

<p>Impeached South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol arrived at court for the first time Saturday to attend a hearing that will decide whether to extend his detention as investigators probe his failed martial law bid.</p>

Impeached South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol arrived at court for the first time Saturday to attend a hearing that will decide whether to extend his detention as investigators probe his failed martial law bid.

Impeached South Korean president arrives for arrest warrant hearing

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Impeached South Korean president arrives for arrest warrant hearing

Agence France-Presse,

Claire Lee

Published January 18, 2025 03:09 PM PHT

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