South Korea’s impeached leader argues for his release

South Korea’s impeached president argued for his release before a Seoul judge as the court reviewed whether to grant a law enforcement request for his formal arrest.

Yoon Suk Yeol, who has been in detention since he was apprehended on Wednesday in a massive law enforcement operation at his residence, faces potential rebellion charges linked to his declaration of martial law on December 3, which set off the country’s most serious political crisis since its democratisation in the late 1980s.

The Corruption Investigation Office for High-Ranking Officials, which is leading a joint investigation with police and the military, requested the Seoul Western District Court to grant a warrant for Mr Yoon’s formal arrest.

Mr Yoon’s lawyers said he spoke for about 40 minutes on Saturday to the judge during the nearly five-hour closed-door hearing.

His legal team and anti-corruption agencies presented opposing arguments about whether he should be held in custody.

The lawyers did not share his specific comments.

The judge is expected to make a decision by late Saturday or early Sunday.

Mr Yoon’s motorcade was seen leaving the court Saturday evening for the detention centre, where Mr Yoon will await the decision.

If Mr Yoon is arrested, investigators can extend his detention to 20 days, during which they will transfer the case to public prosecutors for indictment.

If the court rejects the investigators’ request, Mr Yoon will be released and return to his residence.

Mr Yoon was transported to the court from a detention center in Uiwang, near Seoul, in a blue Justice Ministry van escorted by police and the presidential security service.

The motorcade entered the court’s basement parking space as thousands of Mr Yoon’s supporters rallied in nearby streets amid a heavy police presence, waving banners and shouting slogans calling for his release.

Some protesters temporarily broke through the police lines and tapped on the windows of his van as the motorcade slowed while approaching the court. Yoon did not speak to reporters before heading to the hearing.

It had not been clear until Saturday morning whether Mr Yoon would choose to attend the hearing.

Defence lawyers met Mr Yoon at the detention centre and he accepted his legal team’s advice to appear personally before the judge, said Yoon Kab-keun, one of the president’s lawyers.

The lawyer said the president was to argue that his decree was a legitimate exercise of his powers and that accusations of rebellion would not hold up before a criminal court or the Constitutional Court, which is reviewing whether to formally remove him from office or reinstate him.

Nine people, including Mr Yoon’s defence minister, police chief, and several top military commanders, have already been arrested and indicted for their roles in the enforcement of martial law.

The crisis began when Mr Yoon, in an attempt to break through legislative gridlock, imposed military rule and sent troops to the National Assembly and election offices.

The stand-off lasted only hours after lawmakers who managed to get through a blockade voted to lift the measure.

The opposition-dominated assembly voted to impeach him on December 14.

If Mr Yoon is formally arrested, it could mark the beginning of an extended period in custody for him, lasting months or more.

If prosecutors indict Mr Yoon on rebellion and abuse of power charges, which are the allegations now being examined by investigators, they could keep him in custody for up to six months before trial.

Under South Korean law, orchestrating a rebellion is punishable by life imprisonment or the death penalty.

Mr Yoon’s lawyers have argued that there is no need to detain him during the investigation, saying he does not pose a threat to flee or destroy evidence.

Investigators respond that Mr Yoon ignored several requests to appear for questioning, and that the presidential security service blocked an attempt to detain him on January 3.

His defiance has raised concerns about whether he would comply with criminal court proceedings if he is not under arrest.