South Korea: Supporter of Yoon in Critical State Following Self-Immolation

Synopsis

On March 7, a man in South Korea, thought to be a supporter of impeached President Yoon Suk Yeol, critically injured himself through self-immolation. This incident coincided with the court's decision to release Yoon from custody amid ongoing legal proceedings regarding his declaration of martial law.

Key Takeaways

A 79-year-old man self-immolated in support of Yoon Suk Yeol.
The incident occurred near Seoul City Hall.
The man is in critical condition in a hospital.
President Yoon has been released from custody.
His legal battles continue regarding martial law declaration.

Seoul, March 7 (NationPress) A South Korean man, believed to be a supporter of the impeached President Yoon Suk Yeol, is currently in critical condition after he self-immolated on Friday, as reported by police. The 79-year-old individual, whose identity has not been disclosed, set himself ablaze on the rooftop of a building adjacent to Seoul City Hall around noon.

He was promptly transported to a hospital, where he remains in serious condition, according to Yonhap news agency.

The man carried printed materials criticizing the opposition while expressing support for Yoon.

Earlier that day, a South Korean court approved the release of the impeached President, accepting his plea to annul his arrest related to the brief imposition of martial law.

Since January 15, Yoon has been detained at a facility in Uiwang, just south of Seoul, following his arrest on charges of inciting an insurrection through a martial law declaration on December 3.

Now that he is released, Yoon is set to stand trial without being physically detained.

The decision from the Seoul Central District Court came approximately a month after Yoon's legal representatives submitted a request for cancellation, asserting that the prosecution’s indictment on January 26 was unlawful, occurring a day post the expiration of his detention period.

Detained individuals may be held longer if indicted during their detention timeframe.

Prosecutors argued that the indictment was made within the prescribed period, as the criminal procedure code states it should be counted in days rather than minutes and hours, as claimed by Yoon’s legal team.

In support of Yoon, the court clarified that the detention duration should be calculated in hours and that his indictment occurred outside that timeframe.

If Yoon, who was elected for a single five-year term in May 2022, is formally removed from office, a snap election will be conducted within 60 days. Conversely, if the impeachment is dismissed, Yoon will immediately return to his duties.