Impeached South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol was released from detention on Saturday after a court voided his arrest on technical grounds. Although freed, Yoon remains under investigation for his controversial declaration of martial law.
Detained in a dawn raid last January on insurrection charges linked to his December 3 attempt to subvert civilian rule, Yoon emerged from the detention center smiling and bowing deeply before a crowd of cheering supporters. “I bow my head in gratitude to the people of this nation,” he said in a statement released through his lawyers.
A court cancelled his arrest warrant due to procedural and technical issues—a decision that prosecutors have called “unjust.” The prosecutors opted not to appeal the verdict, allowing Yoon’s release while his criminal case continues.
Meanwhile, Yoon faces a separate ruling from the Constitutional Court regarding his impeachment and the possibility of being formally removed from office. If he is stripped of his position, South Korea will be required to hold a fresh presidential election within 60 days. Legal experts note that his release is solely related to the technical aspects of his detention and does not affect the ongoing deliberations over his impeachment.
Yoon’s legal team welcomed the decision, stating that his release reaffirms the rule of law. After his release, Yoon joined his convoy and drove to the presidential residence, where hundreds of supporters greeted him warmly.
Opposition leaders have condemned the decision. A spokesperson for the Democratic Party criticized Yoon for acting like “a general that has just won a battle” and demanded his swift removal from office. The opposition argues that Yoon’s declaration of martial law—made in an effort to warn against what his lawyers described as “legislative dictatorship” by the opposition—was an unjustifiable overreach.
As the Constitutional Court prepares to make its final decision on Yoon’s impeachment, the political climate in South Korea remains tense, with supporters and critics alike watching closely for what comes next.
