A South Korean court overturned the impeached president’s arrest, releasing him after 52 days in detention, despite Yoon Suk Yeol’s martial law trial. His supporters cheered as he walked free on Saturday, but his legal troubles were far from over.
Authorities arrested Yoon in January after he resisted being taken into custody for two weeks, leading to clashes between his security detail and police. Prosecutors charged him with attempting to impose martial law in December, a move that lasted about six hours but divided the nation.
Yoon’s legal team successfully argued that keeping him in custody was unlawful, and the court ruled in his favor based on technicalities. However, prosecutors criticized the decision as an unjust warning that he remains a serious threat to democracy.
After leaving detention, Yoon bowed in gratitude and thanked his supporters in a statement issued by his lawyers. He returned to the presidential compound in Seoul in an official convoy. More than 50,000 people protested in the capital in support of Yoon, and there was also a somewhat smaller counter-protest.
As Yoon Suk Yeol’s martial law trial draws near, officials anticipate further turmoil as tensions rise nationwide. Although he has no official authority, Yoon is still South Korea’s president after being impeached.
Two crucial court cases now determine his future: his impending trial and a different constitutional court decision that will decide whether to formally remove him from office. The judges are anticipated to make their ruling shortly.
According to South Korean law, Yoon could be sentenced to life in prison or potentially the death penalty if found guilty of insurrection. While authorities prepare for possible violent protests in response to the trial’s verdict, his supporters continue to stand their ground.
