SEOUL — South Korea’s impeached president, Yoon Suk Yeol, appeared in court for the first time on Saturday, January 18, in a high-stakes hearing that will determine whether his detention will be extended as investigators continue to probe his failed martial law attempt. The hearing follows a tumultuous period in which the embattled leader threw the nation into chaos with an unprecedented bid to suspend civilian rule.
Yoon, who was impeached by South Korea’s parliament after attempting to impose martial law on December 3, has been detained since a dramatic dawn raid by law enforcement on Wednesday. His supporters gathered outside the court, clashing with police as the president arrived in a blue van, weeks after his attempt to storm parliament with soldiers in a failed attempt to prevent lawmakers from voting against his declaration.
The martial law bid, which lasted only six hours, was swiftly rejected by parliament, but not before it led to significant political and social unrest. Yoon’s decision to deploy soldiers to disrupt parliamentary proceedings has been widely condemned as a dangerous overreach of executive power.
Since his impeachment, Yoon has resisted arrest, remaining holed up in his residence under heavy guard until his detention on Wednesday. During the first 48 hours of his custody, the former president refused to cooperate with investigators, who have been pressing to extend his detention as they probe the events surrounding the martial law declaration.
Despite facing serious legal challenges, Yoon’s legal team expressed confidence in his innocence. His lawyer, Yoon Kab-keun, told AFP before the hearing that the president’s decision to appear in court was an attempt “to restore his honour” and present his side of the story.
The Seoul Western District Court began the hearing with Yoon in attendance, and a judge is expected to make a ruling on whether to approve the request to extend his detention by the end of the weekend.
Outside the courthouse, dozens of Yoon’s supporters gathered, waving flags and holding placards that read “Release the President.” Police formed a barricade to prevent the crowds from approaching the court entrance, which had been closed to the public since Friday evening due to safety concerns.
Yoon remains the first sitting South Korean president to be detained, a historic development that has shocked the nation. The case has become a pivotal moment in the country’s political landscape, with many watching closely to see how the legal system will handle such a high-profile case.