Impeached President Yoon has extended his detention

A Seoul court has extended the detention of ousted South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol over his failed attempt to impose martial law in the country last month.

Citing concerns that Yoon could destroy evidence if released, a judge on Sunday ordered investigators to hold the suspended president in jail for 20 days.

The 64-year-old was arrested on Wednesday after a week-long standoff between investigators and his presidential security team.

The president’s supporters stormed the court after the prolonged detention, reportedly smashing windows and doors in an incident condemned by Yoon and the country’s acting president.

The order – and Yoon’s refusal to comply with investigators – is the latest development in a saga that has left South Korea reeling from a political crisis.

The order was issued at around 03:00 local time (18:00 GMT on Saturday).

The suspended president is being investigated by the Corruption Perceptions Office (CIO) on charges of insurrection following a failed martial law on December 3 that plunged the country into turmoil.

He has been impeached and suspended by Parliament, but will only be removed from office if the constitutional court accepts the challenge.

Investigators now have 20 days – including the four days he was already in prison after Yone’s arrest – to try the president.

After his detention was extended, Yoon’s lawyer, Yun Gap-geun, told Yonhap News Agency that the president would refuse to be questioned by the CIO.

Pro-Yoon supporters rallied outside the courthouse ahead of the decision, and many entered the building after the judges granted an extension.

Reporters who were there reported seeing dozens of people arrested by the police after the incident.

Acting President Choi Sang-mo expressed his “deep regret” for the “unimaginable violence in a democratic society”, adding that authorities would increase security in the event of future demonstrations.

Choi recently entered the top spot after being voted in by South Korea’s parliament The previous acting president Han Duck-soo was impeachedfor claims of thwarting Yoon’s impeachment process.

Yoon was “shocked” by the scene in court, his lawyer said, and called on his supporters to express themselves peacefully, according to local media.

The incident is the latest in an attempt by Yoon’s supporters to thwart legal proceedings against the president.

The night before the arrest, hundreds of demonstrators in support of Yoon camped outside the president’s house and fought with the police who were trying to arrest him.

Similar scenes took place during the previous arrest attempt on January 3, where Angry pro-Yoon supporters gathered outside the president’s home in an attempt to stop the arrest.

South Korean police were forced to abandon the first arrest attempt after the president’s security team blocked the entrance to Yoon’s compound.

Public opinion has been divided since then Yoon’s shocking announcement of martial law last monthHe said it was because of “anti-state forces” in South Korea’s parliament, while referring to North Korea.

But others have seen the move as an extreme reaction to the political deadlock that has ensued since his main opposition party took over in April. Yoon’s lack of popularity due to a scandal surrounding the First Lady.

Thousands of people have taken to the streets to demonstrate against the ousted president in the weeks since his ill-fated attempt to impose martial law.