A South Korean court has cancelled the arrest of impeached President Yoon Suk Yeol, granting his release on Friday. The decision follows a legal challenge by Yoon’s defense team, which argued that his detention was unlawful due to prosecutorial delays in filing charges.
The Seoul Central District Court ruled that Yoon’s indictment had been filed after his legal detention period had expired. “To ensure procedural clarity and eliminate any doubts regarding the legality of the investigative process, it would be appropriate to issue a decision to cancel the detention,” the court stated.
Yoon, a former prosecutor, sent shockwaves through South Korea’s democracy in December by suspending civilian rule and deploying soldiers to parliament. Lawmakers swiftly rejected his martial law declaration and voted to impeach him.
The 64-year-old resisted arrest for two weeks in a standoff at his official residence before authorities took him into custody on January 15. He now awaits an impeachment trial at the Constitutional Court, which will determine whether he is permanently removed from office.
The ruling marks a significant turn in the country’s political crisis, as Yoon’s fate remains uncertain.
