SEOUL -- South Korea's court on Friday issued an additional detention warrant for former impeached President Yoon Suk-yeol, citing concerns over the destruction of evidence.

The Seoul Central District Court granted the request by Cho Eun-suk, an independent counsel who led investigations into Yoon's insurrection and other charges.

The detention for Yoon, who was re-detained in July last year on charges of obstruction of justice, was expected to be extended by up to six more months with the issuance of the additional warrant.

By law, the detention period of a first-instance trial is a maximum of six months, but a court can extend it following further indictments.

The constitutional court upheld a motion to impeach Yoon on April 4 over his botched martial law bid in December 2024, officially removing him from office.

The ousted leader was indicted under detention on Jan 26 as a suspected ringleader of insurrection.