Protesters unleashed chaos at the Seoul Seobu (Western) District Court following the issuance of an arrest warrant for suspended President Yoon Suk-yeol. The court issued the warrant at 2:50 am on concerns of evidence tampering related to a martial law decree from December 3. The protest, which erupted late Saturday and spilled into early Sunday, saw rioters breaching the courthouse, vandalizing property, and clashing with a large contingent of riot police.
The unrest lasted approximately three hours, during which 1,400 riot police were deployed in an attempt to restore order. Despite their efforts, over 80 protesters were arrested amid the turmoil, and about 100 rioters managed to breach the courthouse premises. The rioters caused significant damage by tearing down court signage, smashing windows, and scaling fences. In addition to property damage, the protest turned violent against individuals; police officers and journalists were targeted and attacked.
The protest saw 10 police officers injured while attempting to control the situation. Additionally, two journalists were injured in the skirmishes. Protesters chanted vehement slogans such as "Revoke the arrest warrant" and "Yoon's name," expressing their fervent opposition to the court's decision. The demonstration highlighted deep-seated tensions surrounding Yoon's arrest and the implications of the martial law decree.
Authorities have been investigating concerns of evidence tampering connected to Yoon Suk-yeol, leading to his arrest warrant. The suspended president has been embroiled in controversy over his alleged involvement in drafting a martial law decree, raising alarms about potential interference in the judicial process.
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