In a significant political turn, South Korean President Yoon Suk-yeol was released from detention on Saturday after prosecutors decided not to appeal the court's approval of his release.
Yoon exited the Seoul Detention Center in Uiwang, waving and bowing to thousands of supporters gathered along the road. Upon reaching the presidential residence in central Seoul, he again greeted his supporters, emphasizing his gratitude for the court's decision, the unwavering support from the people despite the cold weather, and the leadership of the ruling People Power Party.
The Seoul Central District Court's decision to release Yoon on Friday came after accepting his legal team's request to cancel his detention, initially made on February 4. Yoon's lawyers hailed the ruling as a crucial step towards restoring the rule of law, highlighting procedural and substantive issues in his detainment.
The release sparked mixed reactions across the nation. Approximately 55,000 of Yoon's supporters rallied in major districts of Seoul, while around 32,500 people demonstrated against him near the Constitutional Court, according to Yonhap news agency.
Yoon's arrest on January 15 marked the first time a sitting South Korean president was prosecuted. Charged as a suspected ringleader of insurrection, he was indicted on January 26. The prosecution's special investigative unit initially sought to appeal the court's decision, but the prosecutor general mandated compliance with the ruling.
The political drama intensified when Yoon declared an emergency martial law on December 3 last year, which was swiftly revoked by the opposition-led National Assembly. Following this, the National Assembly passed a motion to impeach Yoon on December 14. The constitutional court has since held 11 hearings on the impeachment, with the final verdict anticipated next week.
Reference(s):
Impeached ROK president released as prosecution decides not to appeal
cgtn.com
