Court orders South Korean President Yoon to be released on martial law trial
South Korean court ordered the release of the ejected President Yoon Suk Yeol from prison on Friday, a move that could allow Yoon to trial its insurgency charges without being detained.
Yoon was arrested and prosecuted in January in a martial law order on December 3, which plunged the country into political unrest. The opposition-controlled parliament voted separately to pass the improvisation each, resulting in his suspension.
His hearing at the Constitutional Court’s impeachment trial ended in late February, which is expected to soon see whether it formally evacuate it or restore him.
Seoul Central District Court said he accepted Yun’s request to be released from prison due to his formal arrest period before being prosecuted.
South Korean prosecutor prosecuted president who impeached Aigh, who declared martial law
The court also listed the need to resolve the legality of Yoon Won’s investigation. Yoon’s lawyers accused the investigative agency of detaining him before formally arresting him without legal authority to investigate the allegations of rebellion.
Investigators claim that the martial arts decree constitutes a rebellion. If he commits this crime, he will face death or life imprisonment.
Yoon’s defense team welcomed the court’s ruling and urged prosecutors to release him immediately. The president’s office also welcomed the court’s ruling, saying the Lord hopes to return to work quickly.
However, South Korean law allows prosecutors to continue possessing a suspect, who was temporarily suspended by the court when appealing.
The head of state impeded the main liberal opposition Democrats called on prosecutors to appeal the court’s ruling immediately.
Supporters of South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol, who impeached each other, held a sign near the presidential residence in Seoul, South Korea on Friday, March 7, 2025. The letter reads: “The President is right.” (AP Photo/Lee Jin-Man)
The imminent South Korean president has been detained weeks after martial law chaos
Yoon’s martial arts ordinance involved sending troops and police forces to the National Assembly, causing many Koreans to traumatic memory of past military rules. The decree lasted only six hours, as enough MPs managed to enter a chamber and voted to pass unanimously overturn.
Yoon later argued that his decree was merely intended to inform the people of the dangers of opposing the Democratic Party, which undermined his agenda and impeached senior officials, and said he sent only troops to parliament to maintain the order. But some senior military and police dispatched to parliament told Constitutional Court hearings or investigators that Yoon ordered them to drag out legislators to hinder his or her statute or the vote to detain politicians.
If the Constitutional Court insists on the impeachment of the Lord, he will be formally withdrawn from office and will hold national elections to choose his successor within two months. If the court rejects his imprisonment, but he is still in jail, it is unclear whether and how long he will be able to exercise presidential powers.
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Massive rallies of Yoon’s opponents and supporters spread across the streets of Seoul and other major Korean cities. Whatever the Constitutional Court decides, experts say it could further polarize the country and exacerbate its conservative liberal divide.
Yoon was the first South Korean president to be arrested during his tenure. South Korean law immunity to presidents in most criminal prosecutions, but there are no serious charges against rebellion or treason.
Under the law, a South Korean president has the right to put the country under martial law in wartime and similar emergencies, but many experts say South Korea is not in that state when Yoon declares martial law.
