South Korea's ex-defence minister calls protesters who stormed court 'patriots'

FILE PHOTO: A vehicle believed to be carrying impeached South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol arrives at the Seoul Western District Court in Seoul, South Korea, Saturday, Jan. 18, 2025. Ahn Young-joon/Pool via REUTERS/File Photo

SEOUL (Reuters) - A former South Korean defence minister charged with insurrection over his role in a short-lived martial law declaration has praised protesters who stormed a court over last month's decision to extend President Yoon Suk Yeol's detention.

Kim Yong-hyun, who resigned after the Dec. 3 martial law and is now in prison, called those who stormed the court "patriotic warriors", his lawyer said on Wednesday.