WEB DESK: Seoul was thrown into chaos early Sunday as hundreds of supporters of arrested President Yoon Suk Yeol stormed the Seoul Western District Court, shattering windows and breaking through riot police in a dramatic protest against his extended detention.
The unprecedented attack was labeled “unimaginable” by acting President Choi Sang-mok, who vowed swift action to prevent further unrest.
Yoon became the first sitting South Korean president to be arrested last Wednesday, facing allegations of insurrection linked to his short-lived declaration of martial law on December 3. After a five-hour hearing on Saturday, a court extended Yoon’s detention for up to 20 days, citing concerns he might destroy evidence.
The court’s 3am announcement sparked chaos as Yoon’s supporters overwhelmed police blasted fire extinguishers, and stormed the building, destroying office equipment and furniture. Footage of the rampage, some live-streamed on YouTube, showed protesters chanting Yoon’s name amid the destruction. Police restored order hours later, arresting 46 protesters and vowing further crackdowns.
Nine police officers and 40 civilians suffered minor injuries, and some protestors were detained mid-broadcast. Emergency responders and authorities scrambled to assess the damage, with acting President Choi condemning the violence as a betrayal of democratic values.
Political fallout deepens
Yoon, held in solitary confinement at the Seoul Detention Centre, called for peaceful expressions of dissent through his lawyers, labeling the violence “shocking and unfortunate.” His arrest has deepened political divisions, with his conservative People Power Party (PPP) calling the detention “regrettable” and the opposition Democratic Party praising the move as vital for restoring order.
Support for Yoon’s PPP has surprisingly rebounded, overtaking the opposition Democratic Party for the first time since August, as Gallup Korea’s recent poll revealed. Yet, his martial law declaration — rescinded within hours under parliamentary pressure — has left a legacy of turmoil, with the Constitutional Court now deliberating his permanent removal.
A nation at a crossroads
Sunday’s court attack reflects the boiling tensions gripping South Korea, with pro- and anti-Yoon demonstrations erupting across Seoul. Authorities have promised tougher measures to secure public safety, while the nation waits to see if Yoon’s tumultuous presidency will end in impeachment, prosecution, or an unlikely comeback.
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