State crisis
South Korea’s suspended President Yoon must remain in prison
Updated on 01/19/2025 – 01:44 amReading time: 2 minutes
Yoon Suk Yeol had been in custody since Wednesday. But after a period of time had expired, the court had to decide on a further period of imprisonment. What’s next for the suspended president of South Korea?
Suspended South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol must remain in custody. The district court in the capital Seoul issued an arrest warrant, the official Yonhap news agency reported. This means that the investigators can now keep Yoon in custody for up to 20 days – including the days he has already been in prison. According to police estimates, more than 40,000 Yoon’s supporters protested in front of the court. There were riots.
Authorities arrested Yoon on Wednesday for questioning. It is being investigated whether he was guilty of trying to incite a riot by briefly declaring martial law on December 3rd. The investigators also accuse him of abuse of office.
According to Yonhap, the court justified its decision to issue an arrest warrant based on the risk that evidence could otherwise be destroyed. While Yoon is in custody, investigators can turn the case over to law enforcement for charges.
According to Yonhap, Yoon is the first South Korean president to be formally arrested while in office. The corruption investigation office for high-ranking officials (CIO) applied for the detention extension. The hearing on Saturday (local time) dragged on for almost five hours until the evening. The court then issued the arrest warrant on Sunday (local time).
After the court’s decision was announced, angry demonstrators broke the court’s windows and forced their way into the building. Others threw objects at police officers.
So far, Yoon had refused to testify. During the habeas corpus hearing, he justified the alleged legality of the declaration of martial law, Yonhap reported, citing Yoon’s lawyer.
Yoon’s defense lawyers believe the investigation against him is unlawful and argue that the anti-corruption agency has no jurisdiction over it. The declaration of martial law was an act of government action and therefore cannot be the subject of a court ruling, they said, according to Yonhap.
Yoon surprisingly decided to take the controversial step in a budget dispute with the opposition, but then lifted martial law after a short time. He said he did this to protect the nation. As a result, South Korea plunged into a serious national crisis. Parliament finally voted to impeach Yoon on December 14th.
In parallel to the investigations by the CIO corruption investigation office, impeachment proceedings against Yoon are underway at the Constitutional Court. If the constitutional judges confirm parliament’s decision, South Korea would face early elections. If they revoke this, Yoon would be back in office as president.