South Korean Court Authorizes Detention of President Yoon for Up to 20 Days

Seoul, Jan 19 (NationPress) A South Korean court has authorized a warrant early Sunday to hold the detained President Yoon Suk-yeol for a duration of up to 20 days, heightening the likelihood of his indictment for insurrection due to his failed martial law enforcement.

The Seoul Western District Court approved the warrant request submitted on Friday by a collaborative investigation unit, which includes the Corruption Investigation Office for High-ranking Officials (CIO), the National Office of Investigation (NOI), and the investigative branch of the Defence Ministry.

Amid the turmoil, Yoon chose to appear at the five-hour hearing to defend the validity of his martial law declaration and to rehabilitate his image, as stated by his legal team.

Yoon asserted that the martial law declaration was an exercise of presidential authority, thus exempt from judicial review; however, investigative bodies contended that he enacted martial law without justification, issuing a decree that unlawfully prohibited the political activities of legislators who possess the authority to revoke martial law, as reported by Xinhua news agency.

With the warrant now issued, the chance of Yoon facing prosecution under detention for insurrection has increased.

Prior to the indictment, Yoon will undergo questioning by the CIO for the first 10 days of his detention, followed by inquiries from the prosecution for the next 10 days, following an agreement for a joint investigation into his insurrection charge.

Currently, Yoon is being held at the Seoul Detention Center in Uiwang, situated approximately 20 kilometers south of Seoul and merely 5 kilometers from the CIO headquarters.

He was arrested at the presidential office on Wednesday, marking him as the first sitting President in South Korea's contemporary history to be detained.

Additionally, Yoon will face a separate trial regarding his impeachment, which was passed by the National Assembly on December 14, 2024, and is currently under review by the constitutional court for a period of up to 180 days, during which his presidency will be on hold.

The constitutional court convened for the second hearing of Yoon's impeachment trial concerning his emergency martial law declaration made on December 3, which was revoked by the National Assembly shortly thereafter.

Upcoming hearings are scheduled for January 21, January 23, February 4, February 6, February 11, and February 13.

Recently appointed justices filled two of the three vacancies in the nine-member bench, assuming their roles earlier this month.

To remove Yoon from office, at least six justices must support the impeachment.