by Admin 08/3/2025 South Korea’s Seoul Central District Court has granted the release of suspended President Yoon, raising questions about the legality of the investigations into his arrest. The ruling, issued on Friday, comes as Yoon remains suspended while facing insurrection charges. President Yoon’s lawyers welcomed the decision, stating that it confirmed “procedural and substantive problems” in his detainment. They further described the court’s ruling as “the beginning of a journey to restore the rule of law.” President Yoon expressed gratitude to the judiciary in a statement, commending the court’s “courage and determination in correcting the illegality” of his arrest. The Seoul Central District Court’s ruling follows Yoon’s legal team’s petition last month to nullify his arrest warrant, arguing it was issued unlawfully. President Yoon was initially detained in January over allegations that his brief declaration of martial law constituted an act of rebellion. If convicted, he could face life imprisonment or the death penalty. Prosecutors confirmed early Saturday that they would not appeal the decision to release Yoon. The Emergency Martial Law Special Investigation Headquarters subsequently issued an order for his release, with local media outlet Yonhap reporting that he would be freed from Seoul Detention Center later in the day. Meanwhile, a separate ruling by the Constitutional Court is expected in the coming days, which will determine whether President Yoon will be reinstated or officially removed from office. The court’s decision has sparked massive demonstrations across Seoul, the capital. According to Yonhap, approximately 55,000 Yoon supporters rallied in the city’s main districts, demanding his reinstatement. At the same time, 32,500 protesters gathered near the Constitutional Court, calling for his permanent removal. A Gallup Korea poll released on Friday revealed that 60% of respondents support President Yoon’s removal from office, reflecting deep divisions in public opinion about the situation of the troubled President. The opposition Democratic Party strongly criticized the prosecutors’ decision not to challenge Yoon’s release, warning that it is “throwing the country and its people into crisis.” The party urged the Constitutional Court to act swiftly in removing Yoon from office. Ahead of the prosecutors’ announcement, hundreds of President Yoon’s supporters also staged demonstrations outside the Supreme Prosecutors’ Office, emphasizing the high political stakes surrounding the case. As South Korea awaits the Constitutional Court’s verdict, the nation remains deeply polarized, with Yoon’s fate hanging in the balance amid one of the country’s most contentious political and legal battles in recent history.
South Korean Court Orders Release of Suspended President Yoon Amid Legal Uncertainty
