Jan 18, Kathmandu- South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol has attended a hearing on an arrest warrant to decide whether to keep him in custody for another 20 days. TV footage showed vehicles carrying the president, who was released from the Seoul Detention Center in Uiwang, arriving at the Seoul Western District Court, about 20 kilometers north of the detention center.

Yoon was arrested at the presidential palace on Wednesday, becoming the first sitting president of the country to be arrested. The ousted president had refused to appear at the Corruption Investigation Office (CIO) in Gwacheon, south of Seoul, for questioning over the short-term military rule he declared following his impeachment. If the warrant is issued, Yun's detention will be extended by 20 days.

After the initial 10 days of interrogation by the CIO, Yoon will be interrogated by the prosecution for the final 10 days as both sides have agreed to jointly investigate Yun's treason charges. The National Assembly passed an impeachment motion against Yoon on December 14 last year and sent it to the Constitutional Court for deliberation for 180 days.

Yun, who is cited by investigative agencies as the mastermind behind the coup, declared martial law on the night of December 3. Hours later, the Korean parliament (National Assembly) repealed it.