Yoon argues for his release


Facing off: Supporters of Yoon scuffling with police officers near the Seoul Western District Court. — AP

IMPEACHED South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol appeared in court for the first time for a crucial hearing that will decide whether to extend his detention as investigators probe his failed martial law bid.

Thousands of Yoon’s supporters rallied outside the court and scuffled with police yesterday as they chanted their support for the suspended leader, who plunged South Korea into its worst political chaos in decades with his bid to suspend civilian rule.

Yoon’s Dec 3 martial law declaration lasted just six hours, with lawmakers voting it down despite him ordering soldiers to storm parliament to stop them. He was impeached soon after.

Yoon was detained in a dawn raid on Wednesday in a criminal probe on insurrection charges after he refused investigators’ summons and went to ground in his residence, using his presidential security detail to resist arrest.

South Korea’s first sitting president to be detained, Yoon also declined to cooperate during the initial 48 hours when detectives were allowed to hold him.

But the disgraced president remains in custody after investigators requested a new warrant on Friday to extend his detention.

Yoon spoke for 40 minutes in court yesterday, the Yonhap news agency reported, with his lawyer saying earlier that the leader had hopes of “restoring his honour” before the judges.

The court must decide whether to free Yoon, which analysts say is unlikely, or extend his detention for around another 20 days.

Its ruling was expected late yesterday or early today.

AFP journalists outside the court saw crowds of Yoon’s backers waving flags and holding “release the president” placards.

Yonhap said police estimated that around 12,000 supporters had rushed to the area.

On Friday, Yoon sent a letter through his lawyers thanking his supporters, who include evangelical Christians and right-wing YouTubers, for their protests, which he deemed “passionate patriotism”.

Some protesters chanted “Cha Eun-gyeong is a commie!”, referring to the judge reviewing the arrest request. Others cried “We love you, President Yoon Suk-yeol” and “Impeachment is invalid!”.

They began marching while waving South Korean and American flags and took over the main roads in front of the court.

Yoon’s party typically favours South Korea’s US security alliance and rejects engagement with the nuclear-armed North.

“The likelihood of the court approving the arrest is very high, and aware of this, Yoon has urged maximum mobilisation among his hardline supporters,” said Chae Jin-won of Humanitas College at Kyung Hee University.

“Today’s protests serve as a sort of farewell event between Yoon and his extreme support base.”

A decision by the court to approve Yoon’s continued detention would give prosecutors time to formalise an indictment for insurrection, a charge for which he could be jailed for life or executed if found guilty.

Such an indictment would also mean Yoon would likely be detained for the duration of his trial.

Once “the warrant is issued this time, (Yoon) will likely be unable to return home for an extended period”, political commentator Park Sang-byung said. — AFP

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