South Korean President Yon Suk Yeol released from custody

South Korean President Yon Suk Yeol released from custody

09/03/2025

Yoon's acquittal came shortly after Attorney-General Shim Woo-jung decided not to appeal a court ruling allowing the suspended president to be acquitted. - AP Photo


SEOUL: South Korea's alleged president, Yoon Suk Yeol, was released from custody on Saturday, a day after a court ruling allowed him to stand trial without physical detention over his attempt to declare military rule in December, Yonhap News Agency reported.

Waving to his supporters, Yoon stepped out of the Seoul Detention Center after being detained for 52 days on charges of inciting rebellion. However, the prosecution proceedings and criminal trial against him are still ongoing.

Yoon's acquittal came shortly after Attorney-General Shim Woo-jung decided not to appeal a court ruling allowing the suspended president to be acquitted. Yoon arrived at his official residence in downtown Seoul on Saturday night and bowed respectfully to his supporters.

"I appreciate the courage and firmness of the court in correcting this injustice," Yoon said in a statement.

With his release, Yoon will be able to attend the trial without having to be detained.

On Friday, the court approved Yoon's application after finding that the charge against him on Jan 26 for allegedly inciting an insurrection, which allowed his detention period to be extended, was made hours after his original detention period had expired.

The initial 10-day detention period does not include the time it takes to submit documents to the court for review of the arrest warrant, which led to Yoon's detention deadline being shifted to around 9 a.m. on Jan 26, while prosecutors only filed charges against him before 7 p.m. on the same day, according to the court.

Yoon's legal team accused the prosecution of deliberately delaying his release, which was done only 27 hours after the court's decision.

"The president's acquittal is not just about redressing injustice against individuals, but the beginning of a difficult journey to restore the rule of law that has collapsed in this country," the legal team said in a statement.

The ruling People's Power Party welcomed the court's decision and urged the Constitutional Court to consider the decision in Yoon's impeachment hearing.

"It is a fair decision and the party hopes it will be an opportunity to correct the crippled legal system," party spokesman Shin Dong-wook said in a statement.

On the other hand, the main opposition party, the Democratic Party, strongly condemned the prosecution's decision to allegedly exacerbate the country's crisis with Yoon's acquittal and urged the Constitutional Court to formally sack him in a decision to be made.

The apex court is expected to decide whether Yoon will be removed from office or reinstated in a decision to be announced later this month after the hearing ends on Feb 25.