Teenage Male Suspect in Arson Attempt at Western District Court Detained on "Flight Risk" Concerns

A teenage male suspect accused of attempting arson at the Seoul Western District Court during a disturbance has been detained.

On the 18th, when the pre-arrest detention hearing for President Yoon Seok-yeol, who is accused of leading an insurrection, was held, supporters of President Yoon who unlawfully trespassed over the court fence at the Seoul Western District Court in Mapo-gu, Seoul, were detained by the police. Photo by Yonhap News

On the 25th, Judge Kang Young-gi of the Seoul Western District Court conducted a pre-arrest detention hearing (warrant review) for Mr. A, who is charged with obstruction of official duties and attempted arson of a dwelling. After the hearing, the judge issued an arrest warrant citing "risk of flight."

According to the police, on the 19th, Mr. A is suspected of pouring a substance presumed to be oil through the court's glass window and lighting a piece of paper on fire before throwing it through the glass. Surveillance footage also captured him holding a small yellow container and having a conversation with another man regarding whether oil was coming out. The police added the charge of attempted arson to the charges applied at the time of his arrest, concluding that Mr. A attempted to set fire to the court building.

Meanwhile, Judge Kang also issued an arrest warrant for Mr. B, who was jointly charged with trespassing under the Act on Punishment of Violent Crimes, citing risk of flight as the reason for detention.