South Korea’s impeached President Yoon Suk Yeol was formally arrested early on Sunday, days after being apprehended at his presidential compound in Seoul. He faces possible imprisonment over his ill-fated declaration of martial law last month.

A court in Seoul has extended the time South Korea's impeached president Yoon Suk Yeol will be detained over his botched attempt to impose martial law in the country last month. Citing concerns Yoon could destroy evidence if released,

Yoon, who was impeached and suspended from office in December, is the first sitting South Korean president to be arrested.

Law enforcement authorities have requested a warrant to formally arrest impeached South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol, who is spending his third day at a detention center after his lawyers failed in a last-minute attempt to secure his release.

South Korean court orders formal arrest of impeached President Yoon Suk Yeol over his short-lived martial law decree.

Since police broke up a crowd of Yoon's supporters blocking the court gate in the morning, thousands of supporters surrounded the court after the hearing began at around 2 p.m. (0500 GMT) behind a police barricade chanting "release the president".

A Seoul court issued a warrant Saturday to detain impeached President Yoon Suk Yeol for an extended period over his botched martial law bid last month in the first such detention of a sitting South Korean president.

Investigators say Yoon Suk Yeol abused his power when he tried to impose martial law last month. He would become the first sitting South Korean president to be arrested.

Lawyers for impeached South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol failed in their court effort to secure his release on Thursday, a day after he was detained at his residence for questioning over rebellion allegations linked to his martial law declaration last month.