{"id":2208025,"date":"2025-01-20T19:06:19","date_gmt":"2025-01-20T10:06:19","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/koreapro.org\/?p=2208025"},"modified":"2025-01-20T19:06:19","modified_gmt":"2025-01-20T10:06:19","slug":"political-chaos-in-south-korea-as-protesters-storm-court-over-yoons-arrest","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/koreapro.org\/2025\/01\/political-chaos-in-south-korea-as-protesters-storm-court-over-yoons-arrest\/","title":{"rendered":"Political chaos in South Korea as protesters storm court over Yoon\u2019s arrest"},"content":{"rendered":"

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\u2019s escalating political polarization and eroding trust in judicial institutions.<\/span><\/p>\n

Experts told <\/span>Korea Pro <\/span><\/i>that<\/span> without swift legal action against the perpetrators and efforts to restore public confidence, South Korea could face further instability.<\/span><\/p>\n

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\u2019s detention but also the corrosive effects of years of partisan rhetoric undermining state institutions.<\/span><\/p>\n

COURT UNDER SIEGE<\/b><\/p>\n

The violence erupted on Saturday when Yoon attended his first arrest warrant hearing after being detained on charges related to his declaration of martial law last month. An estimated 44,000 of his supporters gathered outside the court, chanting and attempting to breach police lines to reach the hearing.<\/span><\/p>\n

Protesters vented their anger at law enforcement, calling officers \u201cNorth Koreans\u201d and \u201ctraitors,\u201d while demanding that they \u201copen the road [to the court].\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

Korea Pro<\/span><\/i> witnessed scenes of chaos as police struggled to control the crowds. Lacking proper riot gear, many officers were overwhelmed as protesters breached police lines on multiple occasions.<\/span><\/p>\n

As the riot escalated at night, protesters vandalized court property by hurling objects, breaking windows, discharging fire extinguishers and storming the court building.<\/span><\/p>\n

By Monday, police had detained 90 individuals connected to the riots at the Seoul Western District Court and the Constitutional Court, with 66 facing <\/span>arrest warrants<\/span><\/a>.<\/span><\/p>\n

The Supreme Court <\/span>condemned<\/span><\/a> the attack, noting collective trauma among court officials and <\/span>estimating<\/span><\/a> damages between $413,000 and $483,000 (600 and 700 million won). Meanwhile, the rioters also targeted journalists covering the protests. Two MBC reporters <\/span>stated<\/span><\/a> that they sustained injuries and that their equipment was stolen.<\/span><\/p>\n

On Sunday, police were better prepared to handle smaller-scale demonstrations near the Constitutional Court, using buses to block access and prevent a repeat of Saturday\u2019s events.<\/span><\/p>\n\n\t\t