Formerly Impeached South Korean President Yoon Released from Custody
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Synopsis
On March 8, 2023, former South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol was released from jail following a court ruling that enabled him to stand trial without physical detention due to charges related to his martial law bid. His release, while celebrated by supporters, continues to face criticism from opposition parties.
Key Takeaways
- Yoon Suk Yeol released from Seoul Detention Centre.
- Will stand trial without physical detention.
- Impeachment and criminal charges against him continue.
- Prosecutor General chose not to appeal the court’s decision.
- Opposition party calls for formal impeachment.
Seoul, March 8 (NationPress) Impeached former South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol was freed from prison on Saturday, following a court decision that permitted him to face trial without being physically detained over his unsuccessful attempt to enforce martial law in December.
Yoon greeted his supporters as he exited the Seoul Detention Centre, 52 days after his arrest on charges of instigating an insurrection. Despite his release, the impeachment process and criminal proceedings against Yoon will persist.
His release was confirmed shortly after Prosecutor General Shim Woo-jung opted not to contest the court's decision to liberate the suspended president.
Upon arriving at his official residence in central Seoul on Saturday evening, Yoon expressed gratitude, stating, "I appreciate the court's courage and determination in correcting the illegality."
With his release, Yoon can now stand trial without being physically detained.
On Friday, the court approved Yoon's request after concluding that his indictment on insurrection charges on January 26, which allowed for an extension of his detention, was issued mere hours after the initial detention period had expired.
The initial 10-day detention period did not include the time taken to send documents to a court for review of the arrest warrant, which delayed Yoon's detention deadline to around 9 a.m. January 26, while the prosecution indicted him just before 7 p.m. that same day, as noted by the court.
Yoon's legal team accused the prosecution of unnecessarily prolonging his detention, which was released 27 hours following the court's ruling.
"The president's release signifies not merely the rectification of one individual's injustice but marks the commencement of a challenging journey to restore the shattered rule of law in this country," the team stated.
The ruling People Power Party praised Yoon's release and urged the Constitutional Court to consider the ruling in the ongoing impeachment trial.
"This is a just decision, and the party hopes it serves as a chance to rectify the distorted rule of law," party spokesperson Shin Dong-wook mentioned, as reported by Yonhap news agency.
Conversely, the main opposition Democratic Party condemned the prosecution for worsening the nation’s crisis with Yoon's release and demanded that the Constitutional Court formally impeach him in its forthcoming decision.
The supreme court is anticipated to rule on whether to dismiss Yoon from office or reinstate him later this month after concluding hearings on February 25.
