The accused President Yun’s prison term has been extended

A court in Seoul has extended the jail term of South Korean President Yun Suk-yeol, who was charged last month in a botched attempt to impose martial law in the country.

Citing concerns that Yoon could destroy evidence if released, a judge on Sunday issued a warrant allowing investigators to detain the ousted president for up to 20 days.

The 64-year-old was arrested on Wednesday after weeks of standoff between investigators and the president’s security team.

The president’s supporters stormed the courthouse after his jail term was extended, reportedly smashing windows and doors in an incident condemned by Yun and the country’s acting president.

The warrant — and Yun’s subsequent refusal to comply with investigators — is the latest incident to plunge South Korea into a political crisis.

The warrant was issued at 03:00 local time (Saturday 18:00 GMT).

The ousted president is being investigated by the Chief Executive Officer (CIO) for corruption in which he is accused of rebelling against the martial law order that plunged the country into chaos on December 3.

He has been impeached and suspended by parliament – but he will only be removed from power when the Constitutional Court approves the charges.

Investigators now have 20 days to bring the president to trial – including the four days Yonu spent in jail after his arrest.

After his detention was extended, Yoon’s lawyer Yoon Gap-geun told Yonhap news agency that the president would not be willing to be questioned by the CIO.

Yoon’s supporters rallied outside the palace before the decision, and many entered the building after the judges granted extra time.

Journalists who were there reported seeing dozens of people arrested by the police following the incident.

Acting President Choi Sang-mok expressed “strong regret” over the violence, which he said was “unthinkable in a democratic society,” and said officials would increase security in future cases.

Choi was recently promoted to the top job after South Korea’s parliament voted. He sued former Acting President Han Dak-seonOn a claim that frustrates Yon’s lawsuit.

Yun was “shocked” by the scene in court, his lawyer said, and asked his supporters to express their views peacefully, local media reported.

The incident is the latest in a series of attempts by Yoon’s supporters to obstruct legal proceedings against the president.

The night before his arrest, hundreds of pro-Yon protesters They camped outside the president’s house and clashed with police officers.

Similar scenes happened on January 3, during the previous arrest trial Enraged Yun’s supporters marched from the door of the president’s house to stop the arrest.

South Korean police were forced to abandon their first arrest attempt After the presidential security team prevented him from entering Yun’s compound.

Later, public opinion was divided Yoon’s shocking announcement of martial law last monthReferring to North Korea, he said it was because of “anti-government forces” in South Korea’s parliament.

Others see the move as an extreme response to the political rift that has erupted since his party’s main opposition won a landslide victory in April. Yoon’s loss of popularity due to the scandal surrounding the First Lady.

Thousands have taken to the streets against the ousted president in the weeks since his botched attempt to impose martial law.