The Seoul Western District Court has ordered the detention of the President of the Republic of Korea Yun Seok-yeol on charges of rebellion in connection with martial law. This was announced by the Anti-Corruption Investigation Division against High-ranking Officials.
„The division received a detention order against suspect Yun at around 02:50 on January 19. The reason for issuing the order is „risk of destruction of evidence“. Further investigation is planned against the suspect in accordance with the law and procedure“, the division said.
For the first time in the history of the Republic of Korea, a president has been detained for more than 48 hours. The arrest of the president, carried out on January 15, also occurred for the first time.
On January 15, in the morning local time, the Corruption Investigation Division arrested Yun Seok-yeol. This detention is scheduled for 48 hours, during which law enforcement agencies must assess whether additional detention is necessary, for which a new warrant must be issued. The court began hearing the case at 2:00 p.m. local time on Saturday.
The warrant, obtained on January 18, allows Yun Seok-yeol to be detained for another 18 days - together with the first 48 hours, the period increases to 20 days. In 10 days, the Corruption Investigation Division plans to hand Yun Seok-yeol over to prosecutors, who are expected to file charges within those 20 days.
The Corruption Investigation Division filed an application for the first warrant, which was executed on January 15 after Yun Seok-yeol failed to appear for questioning three times. South Korean law allows for the prosecution of the current head of state under articles of rebellion and treason. Due to martial law on December 3, Yun Seok-yeol is suspected of organizing the uprising as a leader of the conspirators.
In particular, it is alleged that he sent military personnel to the National Assembly to disrupt the vote to lift martial law. On December 14, the parliament removed him from office due to martial law, but until the Constitutional Court's decision, his powers are considered terminated.