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Investigations Intensify Following President Yoon’s Impeachment
SEOUL (Reuters) – In a significant development, South Korea’s impeached President Yoon Suk Yeol declined to answer questions from investigators on Monday amid a probe into allegations of insurrection, as law enforcement prepared to arrest numerous supporters involved in violent protests at a court facility.
Enhanced security measures have been implemented at both the Seoul Detention Centre, where Yoon is currently confined as a pre-trial inmate, and at the Constitutional Court, which is conducting an impeachment trial to determine his potential permanent removal from office.
Last week, Yoon made history as the first sitting South Korean president to be detained following a brief declaration of martial law on December 3. Following the midnight ruling from a court authorizing his detention—including the processing of his mugshot—government officials expressed concerns that Yoon might attempt to destroy crucial evidence.
The immediate aftermath of the court’s decision saw a surge of unrest, with furious supporters of Yoon besieging the Seoul Western District Court early Sunday morning. During this incident, they vandalized property and clashed violently with police, overwhelming law enforcement officials at times due to the sheer force of the crowd brandishing makeshift weapons.
Reports indicate that authorities are preparing to apprehend 66 individuals for charges including trespassing, obstructing justice, and assaulting police officers, according to the Yonhap News Agency. Additional suspects involved in the rampage are still being identified, and the acting Justice Minister, Kim Seok-woo, indicated that legal actions would follow against these individuals.
Acting President Choi Sang-mok has expressed profound regret regarding the “illegal violence” displayed at the courthouse, urging law enforcement agencies to uphold the law stringently to avert any recurrence of such incidents.
Protests Escalate with Livestreamed Incursions
In a chaotic scene captured on social media, hundreds of demonstrators managed to breach police lines and infiltrated the court building shortly after the 3 a.m. decision approving Yoon’s detention. Videos from the scene showed protesters actively targeting the offices of judges, vocally challenging the authority of those involved in the court proceedings against Yoon.
Chun Dae-yup, head of the National Court Administration, disclosed that at least one judge’s office had been forcibly entered. Disturbingly, some protesters livestreamed the event on platforms like YouTube, showcasing scenes of destruction within the court while chanting Yoon’s name. Several individuals broadcasting these events were subsequently apprehended by police.
Despite the escalating situation, Yoon’s refusal to comply with questioning on Monday at the Corruption Investigation Office for High-ranking Officials (CIO) marks a continuation of his non-compliance with the investigative process. His legal team contends that the arrest warrant issued last week is fundamentally flawed, arguing that the court involved lacks jurisdiction and that the CIO overstepped its legal boundaries in pursuing the case.
Should he be charged with insurrection, the offense carries severe consequences, as it is one of the few crimes that South Korean presidents are not immune from and can even be punishable by death—though no executions have taken place in the nation for nearly three decades.
Through his legal representatives, Yoon has characterized the disturbance at the courthouse as “shocking and unfortunate,” urging supporters to express dissent peacefully. He acknowledged the feelings of “rage and unfairness” among the public and called for a cautious response from police to maintain order.
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