After Yoon’s prison term was extended, protesters stormed a South Korean court

By Joyce Lee and Joo-Min Park

SEOUL (Reuters) – Hundreds of supporters of jailed South Korean President Yun Suk-yeol stormed a court building early on Sunday after his jail term was extended, smashing windows and launching an “unthinkable” attack on the country’s acting leader.

On Wednesday, Yun became the first sitting South Korean president to be arrested on charges of sedition in connection with the dramatic and short-lived martial law declaration that plunged the country into political crisis.

Soon after the court announced its decision at 3 a.m. (1800 GMT) on Sunday, Yun’s supporters flooded the building, and riot police tried to push them away.

Footage showed protesters pouring in fire extinguishers at police lines guarding the front entrance and destroying office furniture, furniture and furniture.

Police restored order a few hours later, saying they had arrested 46 protesters and were looking for others.

In a statement, President Choi Sang-mok said, “The government is using illegal violence…

Nine police officers were injured in the riot, Yonhap news agency reported. Police were not immediately available for comment on the officers who were injured.

Emergency responders near Seoul’s western district court said about 40 people suffered minor injuries.

Several of those who took part live-streamed the raid on YouTube, showing protesters storming the court and chanting Yoon’s name. Some streamers have been arrested by the police during their broadcasts.

Threats can destroy evidence.

As Yun refused to be questioned, investigators, who are facing a deadline to arrest the accused president, asked the court to extend the hearing on Friday.

After a five-hour trial on Saturday in which Yoon attended, a judge issued a new warrant extending Yoon’s detention for 20 days, citing “concerns that the suspect may destroy evidence.”

South Korean law requires a suspect arrested on a warrant to undergo a physical examination, be photographed, and wear a prison uniform.

The leader is being held in isolation at a Seoul detention center.

The Corruption Investigation Bureau, which heads the investigative team, said it called Yoon for further investigation on Sunday afternoon, but the president-appointed prosecutor has so far stonewalled efforts to question him.

The lawyers argued that the arrest was illegal because the warrant was issued under the wrong jurisdiction and the investigative team had no authority to investigate.

Sedition, the crime for which Yoon could be charged, is one of the few for which South Korea’s president does not have immunity and is technically punishable by death. But South Korea hasn’t executed anyone in nearly 30 years.

“President Yun Suk-yeol and our legal team will never give up,” lawyers representing Yun said in a statement.

“We will do everything we can to correct the error in future judicial proceedings,” the lawyers said, adding that the chaos in the courtroom was “sad”.

Unlike the criminal investigation that sparked Sunday’s riots, the Constitutional Court He is debating whether to permanently remove him from office or restore his presidential powers, according to the impeachment brought before Parliament on December 14.

Weight of political parties

Yon’s conservative People Power party on Sunday called the decision to extend his prison term “deeply regrettable”.

In a statement, the party said, “There is a question whether the consequences of imprisoning those sitting in the presidency have been adequately considered.”

The main opposition Democratic Party said the decision was a cornerstone for rebuilding order and said “violence” by “far-right” groups would only exacerbate the national crisis.

Hours later, Parliament collapsed after the PPP declared a declaration of martial law in a vote it rejected.

But in the turmoil since – in which the opposition-majority parliament also impeached his first successor and investigators made their first attempt to arrest Yeon – the PPP’s support has grown dramatically again.

His party is ahead of the opposition Democratic Party with 39% to 36% support – the first time since August, a Gallup Korea poll showed on Friday.

Thousands of people gathered in downtown Seoul on Sunday morning for a rally in support of Yun. In recent days, anti-UN demonstrations have been held across the city.