South Korea’s Impeached President Yoon Released from Prison

South Korea’s impeached President Yoon Suk Yeol was released from prison on Saturday, a day after a Seoul court overturned his arrest, allowing him to stand trial for rebellion without being detained.

Emerging from a detention center near Seoul, Yoon waved to his supporters, clenched his fists, and bowed deeply as they chanted his name and waved South Korean and U.S. flags. He then entered a black van and headed to his presidential residence in the capital.

In a statement released through his lawyers, Yoon expressed gratitude for the court’s decision, calling it a correction of “illegality”—a reference to ongoing legal disputes over his arrest. He also thanked his supporters and urged those on hunger strike in protest of his impeachment to end their demonstrations.

Political Crisis and Legal Battle

Yoon was arrested and indicted in January after issuing a martial law decree on December 3, a move that triggered a major political crisis. In response, the liberal opposition-controlled National Assembly impeached him on December 14, resulting in his suspension from office.

The Constitutional Court is currently reviewing whether to formally remove or reinstate Yoon. If the court upholds his impeachment, a national election must be held within two months to elect a new president.

The Seoul Central District Court ruled on Friday that Yoon should be released from prison, citing concerns over the legality of the investigation into him. His lawyers argued that the agency responsible for his arrest lacked the legal authority to pursue rebellion charges. The court also noted that the formal arrest period had expired before his indictment.

Prosecutors ultimately chose not to appeal the court’s ruling, leading to Yoon’s release. Under South Korean law, prosecutors could have continued to detain him while pursuing an appeal.

Opposition Backlash and Public Division

The main opposition Democratic Party, which led Yoon’s impeachment, condemned the decision to release him. Party spokesperson Cho Seung-rae labeled prosecutors as Yoon’s “henchmen” and urged the Constitutional Court to finalize his removal to prevent further unrest.

Yoon’s controversial martial law decree involved deploying hundreds of troops and police officers to the National Assembly after declaring military rule. According to testimony from senior military and police officials, Yoon had ordered lawmakers to be forcibly removed in an attempt to block a parliamentary vote on his decree. However, enough legislators managed to enter the assembly hall and unanimously voted to overturn his decision.

Prosecutors argue that Yoon’s actions constitute rebellion, a charge that carries the death penalty or life imprisonment if convicted. While South Korean presidents typically have immunity from most criminal prosecutions, that protection does not extend to serious charges such as rebellion and treason.

Deepening Political Divide

Yoon has defended his actions, claiming that his intent was not to maintain martial law indefinitely but to highlight what he called the dangers posed by the Democratic Party. In his declaration, he labeled the National Assembly “a den of criminals” and “anti-state forces” that obstructed his administration’s agenda.

South Korea remains sharply divided along ideological lines, with mass rallies both supporting and opposing Yoon’s impeachment regularly filling the streets of Seoul. Analysts warn that regardless of the Constitutional Court’s final ruling, political tensions in the country are likely to intensify.

source:https://www.cbsnews.com/news