Impeached South Korean President Yoon Suk-yeol was released from detention on Saturday after prosecutors decided not to appeal a court’s decision to cancel his detention.
Yoon emerged from the Seoul Detention Center in Uiwang, about 20 kilometers south of Seoul, waving to supporters who lined the streets despite the cold weather. Upon arriving at the presidential residence in central Seoul, he greeted well-wishers, shaking hands and expressing gratitude for their support.
In a statement, Yoon thanked the court for its determination, the people’s unwavering support, and the leadership of the ruling People Power Party.
On Friday, the Seoul Central District Court approved Yoon’s request to cancel his detention, which had been submitted by his legal team on February 4. His lawyers hailed the decision as the “beginning of a journey to restore the rule of law,” pointing out that his detainment was “problematic in both procedural and substantive aspects.”
Yoon was arrested on January 15 at the presidential office and indicted on January 26 on charges of leading an insurrection, becoming South Korea’s first sitting president to be detained and prosecuted. However, the court noted that his arrest period had expired before the official indictment was filed.
On Saturday, an estimated 55,000 supporters rallied in Seoul’s main districts to celebrate Yoon’s release, while around 32,500 opponents demonstrated near the Constitutional Court, according to local media reports.
The controversy stems from Yoon’s declaration of emergency martial law on December 3 last year, a move that was swiftly revoked by the opposition-led National Assembly hours later. A motion to impeach him was passed on December 14, and the Constitutional Court has since held eleven hearings on the case. A final verdict is expected next week.
The prosecution’s special investigative unit had considered appealing the court’s decision to release Yoon, but the prosecutor general instructed them to accept the ruling, according to reports.
