South Korea president to appear at hearing as thousands of supporters gather near court

South Korea’s impeached president is set to appear at a hearing to oppose a formal arrest over last month’s imposition of martial law.

Thousands of supporters of Yoon Suk Yeol gathered outside the court in Seoul.

Yoon, who has been in detention since he was apprehended on Wednesday, faces potential rebellion charges linked to his declaration of martial law on 3 December.

The move set off the country’s most serious political crisis since its democratisation in the late 1980s.

The president is expected to argue that there is no need for him to be in custody during an investigation at the hearing.

A decision is expected to be made by the judge by late Saturday or early Sunday.

If he is arrested, investigators can extend his detention to 20 days, during which they will transfer the case to public prosecutors for indictment.

If the court rejects the investigators’ request, Yoon will be released and return to his residence.

The crisis began when, in an attempt to break through legislative gridlock, he imposed military rule and sent troops to the National Assembly and election offices.

The standoff lasted only hours after lawmakers who managed to get through a blockade voted to lift the measure.

The opposition-dominated assembly voted to impeach him on 14 December.