South Korea’s president could be released from jail as a court cancels his arrest warrant, dealing a setback to his opponents.
A South Korean court has cancelled the arrest warrant for embattled President Yoon Suk Yeol, potentially paving the way for his release from jail while he faces trial on insurrection charges over a brief imposition of martial law.
The Seoul Central District Court ruled that its decision was based on procedural issues with the indictment process, and raised questions about the legality of the investigation into Yoon’s actions.
Yoon still faces criminal insurrection charges related to his December 3 declaration of martial law, which led to his impeachment as well as the removal of the prime minister from office.
The court’s ruling does not dismiss the charges against Yoon, and is separate from the ongoing impeachment trial before the Constitutional Court. However, it has sparked celebrations among Yoon’s supporters and protests from those opposing him.
Yoon’s lawyers have called for his immediate release, saying that the case against their client was pursued with no legal justification.
However, some experts caution that this ruling does not necessarily mean a full acquittal, but rather raises questions about the integrity of the investigation process.
The Constitutional Court will rule separately on Yoon’s impeachment, while South Korea’s new acting head of state is working to calm economic markets and reassure international partners amid government chaos.
Source: https://www.reuters.com/world/asia-pacific/south-korea-court-cancels-president-yoons-arrest-warrant-yonhap-reports-2025-03-07