Protesters storm South Korea court after president’s detention extended

SEOUL: Supporters of South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol stormed a Seoul court on Sunday after a judge extended the impeached leader´s detention over his ill-fated attempt to impose martial law.

Yoon said he was “deeply shocked and saddened” by the pre-dawn attack on the court, where his supporters smashed windows and doors.

Tens of thousands of people had gathered outside the Seoul Western District Court in a show of support on Saturday for the president, who became South Korea´s first sitting head of state to be arrested in a dawn raid this week.

AFP journalists saw hundreds of police officers charge into the court, with the force arresting dozens and denouncing an “intolerable illegal and violent incident”.

The incident is the latest episode in South Korea´s spiralling political crisis which erupted on December 3, when Yoon declared martial law and dispatched troops to parliament.

His attempt to suspend civilian rule lasted just six hours after lawmakers defied soldiers to vote it down. They later impeached the president, suspending him from duty.

Yoon vowed Sunday to “persist, no matter how long it takes, in rectifying any injustices”, despite facing a Constitutional Court ruling on his impeachment and the criminal probe that has seen him detained.