Some supporters of President Yoon Suk-yeol stormed the Seoul Western District Court, prompting the Supreme Court to hold an emergency meeting of justices on the morning of the 20th to address the situation.
Minister Cheon Dae-yeop stated in a post on the court's internal network (CourtNet) on the 19th that "Chief Justice Cho Hee-dae will convene an emergency meeting of justices tomorrow (20th) to share the situation and gather wisdom to restore the rule of law by normalizing court functions and preventing the recurrence of similar incidents."
Minister Cheon criticized the storming of the Seoul Western District Court in this statement. He wrote, "The state of the duty room at the Seoul Western District Court, which has turned into a wreck, is not merely a matter of damage to public property; it represents a complete denial and serious infringement of the rule of law and judicial authority that support the nation and society."
He added, "Nevertheless, we cannot give up the critical role entrusted to us by the people in the judicial branch," emphasizing that "At times like this, court members must fulfill their duties steadfastly as faithful guardians of the rule of law from their respective positions."
Minister Cheon also shared details from a meeting with Acting Commissioner Lee Ho-young of the Korean National Police Agency that took place that afternoon. Minister Cheon noted, "The acting commissioner expressed apologies for the occurrence of such incidents, along with a commitment to a thorough investigation, protection of court premises, and safeguarding judges, promising maximum support to ensure that judicial members can work safely and confidently in their environment."
Earlier that morning, around 2:50 a.m., the Seoul Western District Court issued an arrest warrant for President Yoon, citing concerns about potential evidence destruction, which led to extreme agitation among his supporters, who breached police barriers at the rear entrance of the court. They entered the court around 3:21 a.m., smashing the main entrance and glass windows with shields and plastic chairs seized from the police. Some even sprayed fire extinguishers toward the police.
About 11 minutes after the storming, at around 3:32 a.m., the police began to deploy in large numbers inside the court to suppress the supporters. Approximately 1,400 riot police equipped with protective gear and batons were deployed. During this process, 46 individuals who stormed the Western District Court were arrested as they were caught in the act.