South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol, who was indicted on criminal charges for declaring martial law last December, has been cleared to be released from detention after a Seoul Central District Court canceled his arrest warrant. The court ruling stated that it was unclear whether the indictment for insurrection charges had been filed within the defendant’s detention period.
Yoon had been in detention since January on charges of leading an insurrection. However, lawyers argued that the crime of insurrection is not within the investigative jurisdiction of the Corruption Investigation Office for High-Ranking Officials. The court agreed, citing unclear provisions in current laws about this issue.
The ruling means Yoon can now await the impeachment verdict from home instead of in detention. The decision has sparked both relief and criticism from different sides, with opposition party leader Lee Jae-myung stating that President Yoon Suk Yeol’s actions were unconstitutional and “destroyed the constitutional order.” On the other hand, supporters will likely celebrate his expected release.
The court also warned that any further unresolved controversies during the criminal trial could lead to annulment in a higher court or a retrial. The ruling is part of the ongoing uncertainty surrounding Yoon’s various legal battles and South Korea’s political future.
Source: https://edition.cnn.com/2025/03/07/asia/south-korea-yoon-suk-yeol-released-detention-intl-hnk/index.html