In the early hours of Jan. 19, chaos broke out at the Seoul Western District Court as supporters of impeached President Yoon Suk-yeol stormed the premises upon hearing news of his arrest warrant. Protesters smashed windows and forced their way inside, prompting a police crackdown that resulted in the arrest of 46 individuals on charges including unlawful entry. With 40 more arrested the previous day for scaling the court walls, the total number of detentions over two days rose to 86.
On Jan. 18 alone, police detained 40 protesters near the court for alleged trespassing and assaults on officers. This figure, based on data as of 6 a.m. on Jan. 19, is expected to rise further.
The arrest warrant for Yoon was issued at around 3 a.m. on Jan. 19 by Senior Judge Cha Eun-kyung of the Seoul Western District Court, who cited concerns over “potential evidence tampering.” The decision sparked a wave of emotional outbursts among the hundreds of supporters gathered outside the court. Many wept openly, shouted in disbelief, and hurled profanities at the building.
The crowd’s frustration quickly escalated into physical clashes with police as they attempted to rush the court’s main gate. Protesters chanted slogans such as “Don’t block the way,” “Unlawful police, step back,” and “This is a civil war,” while demanding access to the building. Some hurled bricks and other objects at the court.
When police successfully blocked the main gate, groups of protesters redirected their efforts to side alleys, with some scaling walls to breach the premises. Others gathered near the rear entrance.
Supporters of Yoon breached police barricades at the court’s rear entrance, forcing their way onto the premises. Over 100 protesters surged onto the court grounds, creating chaos as they confronted police officers stationed in the area. The situation quickly spiraled into disorder.
Some protesters reportedly sprayed fire extinguishers at police, while others wielded batons and similar objects to attack officers. They also dismantled police barricades, shattered glass windows, and caused damage to the court’s exterior walls.
At approximately 3:21 a.m., some protesters entered the court building by breaking windows and glass doors, raising shutters, and storming inside.
Once inside, they inflicted widespread damage, throwing furniture, smashing equipment with batons, and destroying items such as televisions, vending machines, and ATMs. Loud chants of “Yoon Suk-yeol” echoed throughout the building, with some demanding to know the whereabouts of Judge Cha. The judge was not on the premises at the time.
In one incident, protesters detained a middle school student who was walking outside, accusing him of being Chinese. The situation escalated until the student’s father intervened.
Police reported that some protesters moved through multiple floors of the building, damaging property and entering offices on the fifth and sixth floors where judges conduct their duties. Many appeared to be searching for Judge Cha while shouting profanities.
At 3:32 a.m., police deployed additional forces into the building and began forcibly removing the protesters. Within about 30 minutes, most of the individuals causing disturbances were removed, and many were arrested. A YouTuber live-streaming the chaos captured their own arrest, claiming they had been “swept up” in the situation.
The clashes resulted in numerous injuries among both protesters and police. Several people were seen bleeding from their heads and arms. By 5 a.m., police had regained full control of the building. However, protesters continued to confront officers outside, gathering near the rear entrance, on surrounding streets, and in alleyways. Some demonstrators used motorcycles and police tape to form makeshift barricades to block police movements.
To manage the escalating unrest, authorities deployed more than 1,400 officers, including riot squads, to subdue and disperse the protesters.
