South Korea: President Yoon’s detention extended

South Korean justice on Sunday extended the detention of suspended President Yoon Suk Yeol to 20 days, after his arrest for trying to impose martial law, which provoked angry demonstrators to burst into the court.

The latter broke windows of the building, located in the west of Seoul, before rushing inside, according to AFP journalists, who were able to see that the situation was under control again at 6 a.m. on Sunday ( 4 p.m. Saturday in Montreal).

There is concern that the suspect could destroy evidenceemphasized the judges to explain their decision not to release the head of state, arrested and imprisoned on Wednesday. They thus authorized investigators to keep him behind bars for 20 days.

Mr. Yoon is accused of shaking South Korea by declaring martial law by surprise on December 3. His coup was, however, quickly thwarted by the deputies, within a Parliament surrounded by soldiers. He is the subject of several investigations, including one for rebelliona crime punishable by death.

AFP saw hundreds of police officers rushing into the court on Sunday to push back pro-Yoon people who had been angered by the extension of his detention. Tens of thousands of protesters – 44,000, according to police – had previously gathered in front of the building, chanting slogans in support of their leader and holding signs reading Free the president.

Clashes broke out with the police and around forty protesters were arrested, a local police official told AFP.

Sanctions requested

Me Seok Dong-hyeon, one of Mr. Yoon’s lawyers, criticized the judges’ decision in a statement, while adding that the violence was not probably not what Chairman Yoon wants.

The ruling gives prosecutors time to possibly charge Mr. Yoon, who is already suspended from office, with rebellion. He would then likely remain detained for a maximum of six months while his trial continues.

Yoon Suk Yeol wanted to appear for restore one’s honor by directly explaining the legitimacy of martial law, another of his lawyers, Yoon Kab-keun, told AFP. He has answered truthfully on the facts, evidence and legal issuesMr. Yoon Kab-keun told journalists after the hearing of approximately five hours.

The conservative leader spoke for 40 minutes before the judges, Yonhap news agency reported. Yoon Suk Yeol faced justice for the first time since his shock measure. However, he remains silent in the face of investigators during interrogation.

Mr. Yoon left the court in a blue Justice Ministry van to return to the Seoul detention center, where he is being held. The Office of Investigation into Corruption of Senior Personalities (CIO), which is leading the investigations into him, reported in a press release that two vehicles transporting members of his team had been attacked by protesters, creating a dangerous situation.

The CIO goes demand that the police [impose] strict sanctions based on the evidence collected regarding these actions.

Polls

The crisis seems to benefit Yoon Suk Yeol’s camp. His People’s Power Party (PPP) outpaced the Democratic Party, the main opposition force, in approval polls, 39% to 36%, according to a Gallup study published Friday.

Mr. Yoon sent a letter via his lawyers to his supporters, including evangelical Christians and right-wing YouTubers, on Friday to thank them for their protests and pay tribute to their passionate patriotism.

The leader was arrested on January 15 following an assault by CIO and police officers at his official residence, a first in South Korea for a serving head of state.

The National Assembly adopted an impeachment motion against him on December 14, which led to his suspension. However, he officially remains the president, with only the Constitutional Court having the power to strip him of his title.

In this procedure parallel to the open investigations, the Court has until mid-June to permanently dismiss him or decide to reinstate him in his functions.