The storming of the Seoul Western District Court by far-right protesters over the weekend, sparked by the formal arrest of former President Yoon Suk-yeol, highlights South Korea’s escalating political polarization and eroding trust in judicial institutions.

Experts told Korea Pro that without swift legal action against the perpetrators and efforts to restore public confidence, South Korea could face further instability.

The riot, which left property damage exceeding hundreds of thousands of dollars and injured journalists and law enforcement officials, reflects not just immediate outrage over Yoon’s detention but also the corrosive effects of years of partisan rhetoric undermining state institutions.