January 20, 2025
SEOUL – Law enforcement agencies on Sunday condemned the violent protests at the Seoul Western District Court, the first-ever riot targeting the judiciary in South Korea, vowing to restore order and hold those responsible accountable. Sparked by the formal arrest of President Yoon Suk Yeol earlier in the day, the attacks have sent shockwaves through the country.
After the court granted a warrant for Yoon’s extended detention at 2:50 a.m. Sunday, protesters forcefully entered the court by climbing over walls and smashing windows with ashtrays, stones, plastic chairs and trash at around 3:10 a.m.
The protesters also assaulted police officials stationed around the building by spraying fire extinguishers and striking them with shields and batons seized from the police. Around 30 police officials were injured in the process of restraining the protesters, according to police.
After around 1,400 riot police were mobilized, the rioters inside and outside the court were brought under control as of 6 a.m.
By 5 p.m. Sunday, 48 protesters had been apprehended in connection with the riots at the Seoul Western District Court, bringing the total arrests since Saturday to 89. The apprehended protesters were taken into custody and questioned separately across 18 police stations.
Acting President Choi Sang-mok expressed strong regret over the violence at the court, ordering the police to “sternly investigate the incident, which undermines democracy and the rule of law, in accordance with the law and principles” and to “hold those responsible accountable.”
In a statement through his lawyers, Yoon urged his supporters to express their views peacefully, saying he was “greatly shocked and grieved” by the incident at the Seoul Western District Court.
“The president understands the feelings of injustice and anger held by many people,” the lawyers said, “but he urged them to use peaceful means of expression and hoped the police would approach the situation with tolerance to ensure a smooth resolution.”
Democratic Party leader Lee Jae-myung also criticized the disturbance at the court, saying that the protests at the court were an “absolutely intolerable act that destroys the judicial framework and the foundational order of a democratic republic.”
Ruling People Power Party floor leader Kweon Seong-dong also criticized Sunday’s riots, stating that “violence cannot be tolerated” under any circumstances, but also admonished police at the site, claiming that responsibility for the violence at the court cannot be placed entirely on the protesters.
The Seoul Metropolitan Police Agency has formed a special investigation team to determine further action against those involved. In addition to the 89 protesters apprehended as of press time, the team will identify others who participated in, instigated, or abetted illegal activities during Sunday’s riots.
“The police will conduct a comprehensive investigation into the illegal acts that occurred over the two days at the Seoul Western District Court and pursue strict legal actions accordingly,” acting Korean National Police Agency commissioner Lee Ho-young told the press Sunday.
Lee added that the police will also consider conducting “detention-based investigations” if necessary.
To ensure similar incidents do not reoccur, the KNPA added that it would “further strengthen security measures for courts and other relevant institutions” in the future.
“We have instructed each provincial and metropolitan police agency to maintain public order and to protect major governmental institutions, emphasizing that any illegal or violent demonstrations will be met with strict enforcement of the law and principles, regardless of the group involved,” said a KNPA official.
At around 1 p.m. on Sunday, about 1,500 pro-Yoon protesters marched from the Seoul Western District Court to the Constitutional Court. As of 5 p.m., the Constitutional Court had activated emergency staffing, with police anticipating more arrests as protests continued.
With more protests expected, including pro-Yoon demonstrations scheduled for Sunday, police said the number of arrests could rise later in the day.
The KNPA added that the police will “respond sternly” to any acts of violence or illegal actions that occur during protests, which “cannot be overlooked according to the law and principles.”
“We urge rally organizers to cooperate fully so that all assemblies and protests can remain within the bounds of the law,” the KNPA official added.
The Gyeonggi Nambu Provincial Police Agency announced that it would begin to permanently station police officers near the Seoul Detention Center in Uiwang, Gyeonggi Province and the Corruption Investigation Office for High-ranking Officials in Gwacheon, Gyeonggi Province following Sunday’s protests.
Previously, police forces were deployed flexibly on site, depending on the scale of protests. However, from Sunday morning, two battalions, each comprising 60 officers, were permanently assigned to the Seoul Detention Center and one to the CIO.
From Monday, their numbers will be doubled to four battalions at the detention center and two at the CIO.
“Following the violent incident at the Seoul Western District Court, we decided to reinforce security at facilities falling under our jurisdicton,” said a police official of the Gyeonggi Nambu Provincial Police Agency.
The Supreme Prosecutors’ Office issued a press statement announcing that it has also formed an investigation team dedicated to investigating the riots that took place on Sunday. The team, comprising nine prosecutors, “will work closely with the police to conduct a stringent investigation,” according to the statement.
Regarding the riots, the head of the Office of Court Administration Chun Dae-yup issued a statement Sunday morning, criticizing the riots as a “repudiation and a challenge to the rule of law.”
“The rule of law, which underpins our society, can only be maintained when disputes and questions of right and wrong are resolved through judicial procedures written under the Constitution,” Chun said.
Chun underscored that Sunday’s violence “is something that must never happen and cannot be tolerated. A thorough investigation of this incident must take place to hold those responsible under strict legal accountability.”
After inspecting the Seoul Western District Court, Chun described the scene as “10 to 20 times more devastating” than expected.
“During my 30 years as a judge, I never could have imagined or witnessed such a situation happening,” Chun said. “Public opinion may be divided over martial law and impeachment, but such matters must be resolved within the judicial framework.”
At 9 a.m. Sunday, the Office of Court Administration held an emergency meeting at the Supreme Court in response to the riots at the Seoul Western District Court. Chun, deputy head of the Office of Court Administration Bae Hyung-won and senior administration officials were present to be notified of the damages sustained at the court and discuss comprehensive security measures for the future.
Judge Cha Eun-kyung, who presided over the hearing and was responsible for the decision to issue Yoon’s warrant, will be under police protection from Monday morning. The decision comes after demonstrators near the court hurled insults and threatened violence against Cha following the arrest warrant decision.