A police officer suffers from head lacerations after being assaulted by President Yoon Suk Yeol supporters who stormed the Seoul Western District Court on Sunday, following the issuance of Yoon's arrest warrant. Captured from JTBC
Seven police officers sustained serious injuries, including torn ligaments, fractured fingers and knee injuries, during the violent protests surrounding the issuance of President Yoon Suk Yeol's arrest warrant on Sunday.
The incidents, which occurred this weekend at the Seoul Western District Court, also involved protesters using police equipment to escalate the unrest, prompting authorities to consider filing compensation claims against those responsible.
According to Rep. Yang Bu-nam of the main opposition Democratic Party of Korea, the protests left 51 injured, with seven sustaining severe injuries. Among the injuries were torn ligaments in a left little finger, a fractured middle finger and a fractured right knee, as well as head and forehead lacerations.
Many of the injured officers were younger members of the force, such as constables and sergeants, who were actively engaged in crowd control.
Protesters repurposed police equipment that they managed to take, such as folding barricades, to block entrances and resist law enforcement efforts. Approximately 300 individuals damaged doors and entered the court's premises, while others broke windows and threw objects into the building.
About 100 protesters forced their way inside by smashing first-floor windows and attacking officers.
The police plan to file damage claims not only for property destruction but also to support injured officers in pursuing legal action for physical and psychological damages.
"We are actively reviewing compensation claims," said a police spokesperson, emphasizing the intention to hold offenders accountable both criminally and civilly.
Workers repair damaged sections of the Seoul Western District Court's building facade on Monday. Yonhap
However, questions have been raised about the adequacy of the police response. On Saturday, 48 riot police units were deployed to the site, but this number was reduced to 17 units the following day, despite the presence of an estimated 1,300 protesters. Critics argue that a stronger response might have prevented the escalation of violence.
The National Assembly's Public Administration and Security Committee is set to address the incident during a special inquiry session, focusing on the police's handling of the protests and the measures needed to prevent similar events in the future.
This article from the Hankook Ilbo, the sister publication of The Korea Times, is translated by a generative AI system and edited by The Korea Times.