Investigators consider force to bring Yoon in

South Korean prosecutors and investigators visited the Seoul Detention Center where President Yoon is being held on Monday, after he repeatedly resisted orders to appear for questioning.

The purpose of the visit has not been confirmed, but Shin Yong-hae, chief of the Ministry of Justice's correctional agency, said prosecutors and investigators from the Corruption Investigation Office for High-ranking Officials, or CIO, arrived at the Seoul Detention Center on Monday afternoon, according to Yonhap News Agency.

Shin said he had not been informed whether the visit was for an on-site investigation or forcibly bringing Yoon in for further questioning, but believes that "it will be one or the other".

Earlier in the day, a CIO official said the agency is "strongly considering" bringing Yoon in by force and will not rule out a visit to the detention center for questioning after Yoon refused to appear for the second day in a row.

Yoon will attend the constitutional court hearing of his impeachment trial, scheduled for Tuesday, multiple media outlets said on Monday citing Yoon's defense counsel.

The president has been held in a detention center since Wednesday. He remained silent during 10 hours of questioning by the CIO immediately after being taken into custody that day.

Yoon made a short-lived declaration of martial law on Dec 3. He was impeached by the National Assembly over his martial law decree on Dec 14 and suspended from his presidential duties.

He became the first sitting president to be formally arrested on Sunday. This followed a Seoul court issuing a warrant to detain Yoon for an extended period over his failed martial law bid, citing risks of evidence tampering.

Yoon was moved to a solitary cell at the Seoul Detention Center after his formal arrest. He was also banned from meeting visitors other than his lawyers.

The president will remain in custody until Jan 28 and the detention period can be extended until Feb 7 with court approval, according to the CIO.

Kwon Young-se, chairman of the ruling People Power Party's Emergency Response Committee, said a president should not enjoy special privileges but should also not be unfairly deprived of even the most basic right to defense.

"When making an unprecedented decision in the constitutional history of arresting a sitting president, the reason for the arrest should be fully explained so that the public could understand it," Kwon said on Monday.

Kwon said the court's issuance of the pretrial detention warrant citing the sole reason for evidence tampering was not acceptable.

"How can a president who has been suspended from office and is virtually inactive in the presidential office destroy evidence?" Kwon asked.

Also on Monday, South Korean police made another attempt to raid the Presidential Security Service, or PSS, and a presidential safe house to seize documents and surveillance camera footage.

Yet, the raid once again failed after being blocked by the PSS.

Police also detained 90 people who were involved in the violence that occurred at the Seoul Western District Court and the Constitutional Court on Jan 18-19 during protests against the formal arrest of Yoon.

Protesters smashed windows, threw objects into the building, and injured police officers during the protest.

The prosecution will form a task force to investigate the case in cooperation with the police.

Serious crime

In a statement, the Supreme Prosecutors' Office said the "illegal and violent protests" at the courts represent a very serious crime that completely defied the rule of law and the judicial system.

The main opposition Democratic Party floor leader Park Chan-dae said the acts of the violent protesters were a serious crime that should never be tolerated.

"Not only participants in the illegal violence but also those who instigated violence behind the scenes should be punished severely with the principle of zero tolerance," said Park, whose party has accused the ruling party of inciting violence by denying the validity of the court ruling.

The political turmoil is taking a toll on South Korea's economy. The country's central bank, the Bank of Korea, hinted that it may cut its economic growth outlook for 2025 to 1.6-1.7 percent from the previous projection of 1.9 percent.