The pre-trial detention of the President of South Korea is extended / Riots erupt in Seoul

Hundreds of supporters of the arrested president of South Korea, Yoon Suk Yeol, attacked a courthouse building early on Sunday after his detention was extended. The country’s sitting leader called the attacks unimaginable.

On Wednesday, Yoon became the first South Korean president to be arrested, as he faces charges of rebellion related to his brief declaration of martial law on December 3, which plunged the country into political turmoil.

Immediately after the court’s decision was announced around 3 a.m. local time on Sunday, his supporters gathered at the building, breaking windows and other items inside.

The protesters set off fire extinguishers at the police lines guarding the front entrance, then surged inside, destroying office equipment, devices, and furniture.

The police restored order a few hours later, stating that they had arrested 46 protesters and pledged to track down others involved.

“The government expresses strong regret for the illegal violence… which is unimaginable in a democratic society,” said acting president Choi Sang-mok in a statement, adding that authorities would increase security measures around gatherings.

Nine police officers were injured in the chaos, reported news agency Yonhap. The police were not immediately available for comment on the injured officers.

Around 40 people sustained minor injuries, said an emergency responder near the Western District Court of Seoul.

After a five-hour hearing on Saturday, in which Yoon participated, a judge issued a new order to extend Yoon’s pre-trial detention for 20 more days, citing concerns that the suspect might destroy evidence.

South Korean regulations require an arrested suspect to undergo a physical examination, have their photo taken, and wear prison uniform.

The leader is being held in an isolated cell at the Seoul Detention Center.

The corruption investigation office leading the inquiry said it had called Yoon for further questioning on Sunday afternoon, but the president, who has returned to office, has so far blocked their attempts to interrogate him.

His lawyers have argued that the arrest is illegal because the order was issued in the wrong jurisdiction and the investigative group did not have a warrant for their inquiry.

Rebellion, the crime Yoon may be charged with, is one of the few for which a South Korean president has no immunity and is technically punishable by death.

However, South Korea has not executed anyone in nearly 30 years.

Separate from the criminal investigation that caused Sunday’s chaos, the Constitutional Court is considering whether to permanently remove him from office following the parliament’s impeachment on December 14 or to restore his presidential powers.

Yoon’s conservative People Power Party called the court’s decision to extend his pre-trial detention on Sunday a great regret.

The main opposition Democratic Party called the court’s approval of the mandate a cornerstone for rebuilding order and said that riots from far-right groups would only deepen the national crisis.

Support for Yoon’s PPP had fallen after his declaration of martial law, which he revoked hours later in the face of an unanimous parliamentary vote rejecting it.

But amid the turmoil, in which the opposition-majority parliament also blamed his first deputy and investigators failed in an initial attempt to arrest Yoon, support for the PPP has significantly recovered.

His party has surpassed the opposition Democratic Party in support, 39% to 36%, for the first time since August, a Gallup Korea poll on Friday showed.

Thousands gathered for a regular rally in support of Yoon in central Seoul on Sunday morning. Anti-Yoon protests have also taken place across the city in recent days.

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