Former South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol appeared in court on Saturday for a pivotal hearing that will determine whether his detention will be extended as prosecutors investigate his failed attempt to impose martial law.
According to the AFP, Yoon, who has described his arrest as unlawful, shocked the nation on December 3 by attempting to suspend civilian governance, claiming it was necessary to address threats from “anti-state elements.”
His controversial bid for martial law lasted only six hours before lawmakers overwhelmingly rejected the move. Despite Yoon’s directive for soldiers to disrupt parliamentary proceedings, legislators proceeded to impeach him, leading to weeks of standoff as he resisted arrest in his heavily guarded residence.
Authorities eventually detained him during a pre-dawn raid on Wednesday, marking the first time a sitting South Korean president has been taken into custody.
As Yoon arrived at Seoul Western District Court on Saturday, fervent supporters gathered outside, some attempting to block the blue van transporting the disgraced leader. Many waved South Korean and American flags, urging judges to deny the prosecution’s request for an extended detention.
“President Yoon is a patriot. This arrest is a political ploy to silence him,” said Kim Hye-jin, a supporter at the courthouse.
The Corruption Investigation Office has charged Yoon with insurrection—a serious offense carrying potential penalties of life imprisonment or execution. Prosecutors filed a request on Friday to extend his detention by 20 days to finalize their case against him.
“If approved, the extension will provide the necessary time to complete our investigation and proceed with an indictment,” a CIO official told reporters on condition of anonymity.
Yoon’s lawyer, Yoon Kab-keun, said his client attended the hearing to “clear his name and defend his honor.” Despite this, the embattled leader has refused to cooperate with investigators, maintaining that the probe is illegitimate.
“I left my residence to prevent unnecessary bloodshed,” Yoon said in a statement earlier this week. “But I do not recognize the legality of this investigation.”
The Constitutional Court is simultaneously reviewing whether to uphold Yoon’s impeachment. If the court rules against him, he will lose the presidency permanently, triggering new elections within 60 days.
The former president’s absence from early impeachment hearings has not delayed proceedings, which could take months to conclude.
Yoon’s arrest has amplified South Korea’s already polarized political environment. While the opposition Democratic Party controls parliament and has praised his detention as a victory for democracy, his supporters argue the charges are politically motivated.
“This is the first step to restoring constitutional and legal order,” said a senior Democratic Party official on Friday.
Late Friday, parliament approved a bill to launch a special counsel investigation into Yoon’s martial law attempt, intensifying scrutiny of his administration.
The judge’s decision on whether to extend Yoon’s detention is expected late Saturday or early Sunday. As the nation awaits, the stakes remain high for the disgraced leader, whose presidency now hangs by a thread.
