South Korean President moved to solitary cell, 90 supporters detained

Detained South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol has been moved to a solitary cell in the Seoul Detention Centre's general wing after he was placed under formal arrest over the weekend, a correctional official said on Monday. Yoon was transferred to the 12-sq. m cell at the detention centre in Uiwang, south of Seoul, on Sunday after the Seoul western district court issued a warrant for his formal arrest, according to Shin Yong-hae, commissioner-general of the Korea Correctional Service.

"(Yoon) was moved from a holding room for suspects to the general detention wing, and (I) received a report that he spent the night well," Shin told lawmakers during a session of the National Assembly's legislation and judiciary committee.

According to Shin, Yoon's cell, which is known to usually hold five or six people, is similar in size to those where past Presidents have been detained, Yonhap news agency reported. The official told lawmakers that Yoon cooperated with official procedures for his detention, such as taking a mug shot and undergoing a physical exam, noting that a personal correctional officer has been designated for his safety.

Shin said his office is also cooperating with the police and the Presidential Security Service to ensure security amid concerns over Yoon's supporters possibly taking drastic action, such as attempting to free the detained President. Earlier in the day, Yoon's lawyers said he will not appear for further questioning over his failed martial law bid.

Yoon has been ordered by the Corruption Investigation Office for high-ranking officials (CIO) to appear for questioning at 10.00 am after he failed to appear the previous day, Yonhap reported. The CIO is expected to forcibly bring him in or visit him at the Seoul Detention Centre where he has been held since last Wednesday if he continues to resist the orders.

Yoon was placed under formal arrest early on Sunday after a court issued a warrant to extend his detention over concerns that he might destroy evidence.

Meanwhile, as many as 90 people have been detained in connection with the violent disorder at the Seoul western district court and the Constitutional Court over the weekend during protests against the formal arrest of Yeol, the Seoul Metropolitan Police Agency (SMPA) said on Monday.

Police will first seek an arrest warrant for 66 of them, and five already underwent a related court hearing on the day, Yonhap reported, quoting the SMPA. Of the 66 detainees, 46 are charged with violently storming the Seoul Western District Court early on Sunday morning after the court issued an arrest warrant for Yoon, 10 with blocking a car carrying prosecutors and investigators in charge of Yoon's case, and another 10 with climbing over the walls of the court or assaulting police officers, the SMPA said.

The agency said three YouTubers are included among the 46 courthouse intruders. The 90 people apprehended for violence ranged in age from their teens to their 70s, and those in their 20s and 30s accounted for 51 per cent, or 46 people, the SMPA noted, vowing to seek stern punishment for all illegal acts and their perpetrators. Earlier, a total of 86 angry supporters of impeached President Yoon were apprehended for storming a court and are likely to face severe legal consequences, sources said.

From Saturday to early Sunday, police arrested the protesters for breaking into the Seoul Western District Court in anger over the court's decision to formally arrest Yoon for his failed martial law attempt, Yonhap news agency reported.

Yoon's supporters forcefully entered the court by climbing over walls and breaking windows while hurling plastic chairs, trash and other objects, and spraying a fire extinguisher at police officers stationed around the building. They were part of an estimated crowd of 44,000 supporters of Yoon who had gathered outside the court Saturday as the impeached President attended a hearing regarding the extension of his detention.