South Korean Prosecutors Order Release of Yoon Suk Yeol

Synopsis

On March 8, the South Korean prosecution mandated the release of impeached President Yoon Suk Yeol, after a court granted his request to nullify his arrest. This decision has sparked political tensions between ruling and opposition parties, further complicating the nation's political landscape.

Key Takeaways

Yoon Suk Yeol was released after a court ruling.
His detention was labeled “illegal” by the ruling party.
The political divide has deepened amidst the controversy.
Protests erupted demanding his immediate release.
The opposition party called for an appeal against the release ruling.

Seoul, March 8 (NationPress) The South Korean prosecution announced on Saturday that it has ordered the release of impeached President Yoon Suk Yeol from custody after a court accepted his appeal to reverse his arrest.

A special investigation unit confirmed that it has informed the Seoul Detention Centre in Uiwang, located just south of the capital, to proceed with his release, following the Seoul Central District Court's decision the previous day.

Yoon's release comes 52 days after he was detained on January 15 for allegedly inciting an insurrection through his martial law declaration made on December 3, as reported by Yonhap news agency.

Earlier that day, South Korea's ruling and opposition factions clashed over the court's ruling to free President Yoon Suk Yeol, intensifying the already significant political divide that has plunged the nation into chaos.

The ruling People Power Party (PPP) called for Yoon's swift release, labeling his detention as “illegal” during a demonstration in front of the Supreme Prosecutors' Office in southern Seoul.

“They are still holding the President 20 hours after the court ordered his release,” stated Kwon Young-se, the PPP's interim leader, at the protest, urging the prosecution not to “yield to threats from the opposition party.”

The protest saw the participation of 35 PPP lawmakers, who chanted, “Release the President.”

Kweon Seong-dong, the party's floor leader, cautioned that the party would lodge a complaint against the prosecution on the basis of “illegal detention” if they did not release the President.

Conversely, the main opposition Democratic Party (DP) strongly urged the prosecution to challenge the court's ruling during a rally near the same prosecution office. The party warned that not doing so would be considered a “betrayal of the people and a concession to the ringleader of an insurrection.”

Highlighting that an appeal is a valid legal procedure, the DP warned that not pursuing this option would be perceived as an “excuse” to “set Yoon Suk Yeol free.”