Seoul: Prosecutors on Saturday submitted a renewed request to extend the detention of President Yoon Suk Yeol, following a Seoul court’s denial of their initial request just a day prior. This request aims to extend Yoon’s detention until February 6 as part of an ongoing investigation into his alleged involvement in an attempted martial law declaration last month.
According to Yonhap News Agency, the special prosecution team quickly filed the new request with the Seoul Central District Court merely four hours after the initial rejection. This move followed the Corruption Investigation Office for High-ranking Officials (CIO) transferring the case to the prosecution for further investigation. The prosecution argued that, based on past precedents involving supplementary investigations of CIO-transferred cases, an extension of Yoon’s detention is warranted to conduct necessary probes.
In anticipation of a potential second denial by the court, the prosecution team is also preparing an indictment against Yoon. A prosecution official, speaking anonymously, confirmed that all possible legal options are being considered due to the uncertain outcome of the request.
Under South Korean law, a suspect can be detained for up to 10 days, with a possible extension for another 10 days. Yoon was taken into custody last Sunday. The Seoul Central District Court dismissed the initial extension request, questioning the necessity of continued investigation since the CIO had already conducted a probe and requested an indictment.
The prosecution’s actions have prompted President Yoon’s legal team to demand his immediate release, condemning the proceedings as illegal. They argue that the prosecution’s extension request contravenes legal provisions governing the CIO, adding further illegality to the process. The ruling People Power Party (PPP) has supported this stance, urging for Yoon’s release and advocating for a non-detention investigation.
Meanwhile, the main opposition Democratic Party (DP) has called on the prosecution to proceed with Yoon’s indictment within the allowable period, citing evidence gathered during investigations of other senior military officials as sufficient for supporting the charges against him.
The allegations against Yoon involve accusations of orchestrating a martial law declaration on December 3, which has led to significant political unrest. He is accused of colluding with former Defense Minister Kim Yong-hyun and others to initiate a riot and misuse his authority to deploy troops to the National Assembly to prevent lawmakers from rejecting the decree.
Currently, Yoon is held at the Seoul Detention Center in Uiwang, while a Constitutional Court trial is underway to decide the validity of his impeachment by the National Assembly. Should the impeachment be upheld, Yoon will be removed from office, triggering a snap presidential election within 60 days. If dismissed, he will be reinstated.