South Korea’s impeached conservative President Yoon Suk Yeol was freed from prison on Saturday, just one day after a Seoul court ruled to cancel his arrest, permitting him to face trial for rebellion while remaining free.
Upon his release from a detention center near Seoul, Yoon waved, clenched his fists, and gave a deep bow to the crowd of supporters who were chanting his name and holding South Korean and U.S. flags. Yoon then got into a black van and headed toward his presidential residence in Seoul.
In a statement released by his lawyers, Yoon expressed gratitude for the “courage and decision” of the Seoul Central District Court to correct what he described as an “illegality,” referring to the legal issues surrounding his arrest. He also thanked his supporters and urged those on hunger strike in protest of his impeachment to end their fast.
Yoon was arrested and charged by prosecutors in January following his December 3rd martial law decree, which sparked significant political unrest in the country. The National Assembly, controlled by the liberal opposition, later voted to impeach him, resulting in his suspension from office.
The Constitutional Court is currently considering whether to officially remove or reinstate Yoon. If the court upholds his impeachment, a national election will be held within two months to select his successor.
The Seoul Central District Court announced on Friday that it had granted Yoon’s request for release from prison, citing the need to address concerns about the legality of the investigations into the president. Yoon’s lawyers have argued that the agency responsible for his detention lacked the legal authority to investigate the rebellion charges against him.
The court also stated that the legal period for his formal arrest had expired before he was indicted.
Yoon’s release came after prosecutors chose not to appeal the Seoul court’s decision. Under South Korean law, prosecutors can continue to detain a suspect while appealing a decision, even if the court cancels their arrest.
The main liberal opposition party, the Democratic Party, which led Yoon’s impeachment on December 14, strongly criticized the prosecutors’ decision, calling them “henchmen” of Yoon, a former prosecutor general. Party spokesperson Cho Seung-rae urged the Constitutional Court to remove Yoon as soon as possible to prevent further public unrest and anxiety.
Public backlash against Yoon’s martial law decree centered on his decision to send hundreds of troops and police officers to the National Assembly after declaring military rule. Some senior military and police officials sent to the assembly testified that Yoon ordered them to block lawmakers from entering to prevent a vote on the decree. Yoon defended his actions, claiming that he was simply trying to maintain order.
Eventually, enough lawmakers entered the assembly hall and voted unanimously to overturn Yoon’s decree.
Investigators have argued that Yoon’s martial law decree could be classified as rebellion. If convicted, he could face the death penalty or life imprisonment. While Yoon enjoys presidential immunity from most criminal charges, it does not extend to serious offenses like rebellion and treason.
Yoon has stated that he did not intend to impose martial law for an extended period, explaining that his goal was simply to warn the public about the Democratic Party, which he accused of obstructing his agenda and impeaching numerous senior officials and prosecutors. In his martial law announcement, Yoon referred to the assembly as “a den of criminals” and “anti-state forces.”
South Korea remains deeply divided along conservative and liberal lines, with protests both supporting and opposing Yoon’s impeachment causing tensions in the streets of Seoul. Experts suggest that no matter the outcome of the Constitutional Court’s decision, the division is likely to intensify.