A South Korean court has ordered the release from jail of impeached President Yoon Suk Yeol, who is facing insurrection charges for declaring martial law in December. However, President Yoon was not immediately freed as prosecutors have a week to appeal the ruling.
The Seoul Central District Court ruled that prosecutors had violated procedural rules by detaining Mr. Yoon longer than allowed before indicting him last month. This ruling is limited and does not address the charges against Mr. Yoon, which are still pending at his criminal trial.
President Yoon declared martial law on December 3, citing opposition from the National Assembly as a reason for his actions. However, the assembly voted against his decree, forcing him to rescind it after six hours. The impeachment of President Yoon has sparked South Korea’s worst political crisis in decades.
Despite facing criminal charges while still in office, Mr. Yoon is considered the first president in South Korean history to be impeached and face such charges. His lawyers argued that prosecutors had held him in detention longer than the law permitted, leading to this ruling.
The court’s decision may have implications for President Yoon’s future trial, as it suggests he will likely go through his trial as a free man. The ruling was welcomed by Mr. Yoon’s lawyers and supporters, but opposed by the opposition Democratic Party, which spearheaded his impeachment.
Source: https://www.nytimes.com/2025/03/07/world/asia/south-korea-court-yoon-freed.html