South Korea’s impeached President Yoon Suk Yeol arrived at a Seoul court on Saturday to protest an extension of his house arrest over his decision to impose martial law.
He was brought from a detention center in Uiwang, near Seoul, in a blue Justice Ministry van and escorted by police and the Presidential Security Service.
Hundreds of people supporting Yoon gathered outside the court amid heavy police security and chanted slogans calling for his release.
Yun cooperates ‘to restore respect’
On Wednesday, Yoon became the country’s first sitting president to be arrested in a criminal investigation. Yoon had refused to cooperate during the investigation.
But on Saturday, his lawyers said the impeached president accepted the advice of his legal counsel and decided to appear in person before the judge. He plans to argue that his declaration of martial law was a lawful exercise of his powers.
Yoon’s lawyer, Yoon Kab-kyun, said in a statement that he decided to attend “to restore his honor by directly explaining the validity of emergency martial law and that rebellion has not been established.”
Investigators on Friday requested a new warrant to extend Yoon’s arrest by 20 days. This will give prosecutors enough time to formalize charges.
The court hearing began at around 2 pm (0500 GMT). The decision is expected on Saturday or Sunday.
The corruption investigation office is trying to determine whether Yun committed rebellion, a crime punishable by life in prison or even the death penalty.
Yoon also faces a parallel constitutional court investigation into whether his impeachment is upheld.
The opposition-dominated parliament voted to impeach him on 14 December over his failed attempt to impose martial law on 3 December.
mfi/rmt (AP, Reuters, AFP)
