Il Nuovo Postiglione - S. Korea's president in court as investigators seek to extend detention

Thousands of Yoon's supporters rallied outside the court and scuffled with police as they chanted their support for the suspended leader, who plunged South Korea into its worst political chaos in decades with his bid to suspend civilian rule.

The president's December 3 martial law declaration lasted just six hours, with lawmakers voting it down despite him ordering soldiers to storm parliament to stop them. He was impeached soon after.

Yoon was detained in a dawn raid on Wednesday in a criminal probe on insurrection charges after he refused investigators' summons and went to ground in his residence, using his presidential security detail to resist arrest.

South Korea's first sitting president to be detained, Yoon also declined to cooperate during the initial 48 hours detectives were allowed to hold him.

However, the disgraced president remains in custody after investigators requested a new warrant on Friday to extend his detention.

Yoon spoke for 40 minutes in court, the Yonhap news agency reported, with his lawyer earlier telling AFP the leader had hopes of "restoring his honour" before the judges.

The court must decide whether to free Yoon, which analysts say is unlikely, or extend his detention for around another 20 days. Its ruling is expected late on Saturday or early Sunday.

AFP journalists outside the court saw crowds of Yoon's backers waving flags and holding "release the president" placards. Yonhap said police estimated that around 12,000 supporters had rushed to the area.

- 'Passionate patriotism' -

On Friday, Yoon sent a letter through his lawyers on Friday thanking his supporters, who include evangelical Christians and right-wing YouTubers, for their protests, which he deemed "passionate patriotism".

Some protesters chanted "Cha Eun-gyeong is a commie!", referring to the judge reviewing the arrest request. Others cried "We love you, President Yoon Suk Yeol" and "Impeachment is invalid!"

They began marching while waving South Korean and American flags and took over the main roads in front of the court. Yoon's party typically favours South Korea's US security alliance and rejects engagement with the nuclear-armed North.

"The likelihood of the court approving the arrest is very high, and aware of this, Yoon has urged maximum mobilisation among his hardline supporters," Chae Jin-won of Humanitas College at Kyung Hee University told AFP.

"Today's protests serve as a sort of farewell event between Yoon and his extreme support base."

- More legal woes -

A decision by the court to approve Yoon's continued detention would give prosecutors time to formalise an indictment for insurrection, a charge for which he could be jailed for life or executed if found guilty.

Such an indictment would also mean Yoon would likely be detained for the duration of his trial.

Once "the warrant is issued this time, (Yoon) will likely be unable to return home for an extended period", political commentator Park Sang-byung told AFP.

Yoon said on Wednesday he had agreed to leave his compound to avoid "bloodshed" but that he did not accept the legality of the investigation.

He has refused to answer investigators' questions, with his legal team saying Yoon explained his position on the day he was arrested.

Yoon has also been absent from a parallel probe at the Constitutional Court, which is considering whether to uphold his impeachment.

He did not attend the first two hearings this week but the trial, which could last months, will continue in his absence.

M.Vacanti--INP