Impeached South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol Released from Prison Amid Political Turmoil

Suspended Leader Awaits Constitutional Court Decision on Impeachment

Seoul, South Korea – South Korea’s impeached President Yoon Suk Yeol was released from prison on Saturday, a day after a Seoul court overturned his arrest warrant, allowing him to stand trial without detention. However, Yoon remains suspended from office, facing insurrection charges over his December 2024 martial law decree.

His fate now lies in the hands of the Constitutional Court, which will soon decide whether to formally remove him from office or reinstate him. If his impeachment is upheld, South Korea will head to a national election within two months to elect a new president.

Yoon’s Release Sparks Mixed Reactions

Television footage captured Yoon exiting the Seoul Detention Center, where he had been held since January. The conservative leader, known for his hardline stance on law and order, waved to a crowd of supporters waving South Korean and U.S. flags, clenching his fists in defiance before bowing deeply. He then left in a black van headed for his presidential residence in Seoul.

In a statement released through his legal team, Yoon expressed gratitude to the Seoul Central District Court for what he described as a correction of an illegal arrest. He also urged his supporters who had been staging hunger strikes in protest of his impeachment to end their demonstrations.

“I appreciate the courage and decision by the Seoul Central District Court to correct illegality,” Yoon stated.

Martial Law Decree at the Center of the Controversy

Yoon’s legal troubles began after he declared martial law on December 3, 2024, in what he claimed was an effort to preserve stability. However, the move sparked intense political turmoil, leading to mass protests and swift action from the opposition-controlled National Assembly, which impeached him on December 14.

At the heart of the crisis was Yoon’s deployment of troops and police forces to the National Assembly after placing the country under military rule. Lawmakers were physically prevented from voting on his decree, with senior military and police officials later testifying that Yoon had directly ordered security forces to remove legislators.

Opposition leaders and critics condemned the action as an attempted coup, while Yoon’s allies insisted he was merely maintaining public order.

Despite the heavy military presence, enough lawmakers eventually managed to enter the assembly hall and vote unanimously to overturn Yoon’s decree.

Legal and Political Battle Intensifies

Following his impeachment, South Korean prosecutors arrested and indicted Yoon in January 2025, charging him with rebellion for his martial law decree. If convicted, Yoon could face life imprisonment or the death penalty, as South Korean law exempts presidents from prosecution for most crimes, but not for grave offenses like treason and rebellion.

However, on Friday, the Seoul Central District Court ruled that Yoon’s continued detention was unjustified, citing questions over the legality of the investigations that led to his arrest. Yoon’s legal team had argued that the investigative agency that detained him lacked proper legal authority to pursue rebellion charges.

“The legal period of his formal arrest expired before he was indicted,” the court stated in its ruling, effectively voiding his detention.

Prosecutors Choose Not to Appeal, Opposition Calls for Swift Dismissal

Despite having the option to appeal the court’s decision, prosecutors chose not to challenge Yoon’s release, sparking outrage among opposition leaders.

The liberal Democratic Party, which led Yoon’s impeachment proceedings, accused prosecutors of acting as political allies of the president.

“Prosecutors have become nothing but the henchmen of Yoon,” said Democratic Party spokesperson Cho Seung-rae. “The Constitutional Court must act swiftly and dismiss Yoon immediately to prevent further unrest.”

South Korea’s Political Divide Deepens

Yoon has repeatedly defended his actions, arguing that his martial law decree was a necessary step to protect the country from opposition forces that had obstructed his governance.

“I did not intend to maintain martial law indefinitely. I simply wanted to inform the public about the threat posed by the opposition, which has worked to impeach officials and block my reforms,” Yoon stated.

In his December martial law announcement, Yoon went as far as labeling the opposition-controlled National Assembly as a “den of criminals” and “anti-state forces.”

His statements have only deepened political tensions, with both pro-Yoon and anti-Yoon protests erupting across the country.

“The conservative-liberal divide in South Korea is severe, and whatever decision the Constitutional Court makes, the division is certain to worsen,” said political analyst Kim Jae-hoon.

What’s Next? Constitutional Court to Decide Yoon’s Fate

With Yoon now out of prison but still suspended from office, the final decision on his impeachment rests with South Korea’s Constitutional Court.

The court is currently deliberating on the legality of Yoon’s impeachment and is expected to issue a verdict in the coming weeks. If the court upholds the impeachment, a new presidential election will be triggered within two months.

However, if the court rules in Yoon’s favor, he could be reinstated as president, a move that would likely spark further public protests and deepen the country’s political instability.

Highlights:

• Impeached South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol has been released from prison after a Seoul court canceled his arrest.
• Yoon remains suspended from office and is awaiting a Constitutional Court decision on whether his impeachment will be upheld.
• His December 2024 martial law decree led to impeachment and rebellion charges, with critics calling it an attempted coup.
• If convicted of rebellion, Yoon faces life imprisonment or the death penalty.
• Prosecutors decided not to appeal his release, angering opposition leaders who demand his immediate dismissal.
• South Korea remains deeply divided, with protests both in support and against Yoon.

What Lies Ahead?

The Constitutional Court’s final decision on Yoon’s impeachment will have far-reaching consequences for South Korea’s democracy. If he is removed from office, South Korea will hold fresh elections, but if he is reinstated, the country could face prolonged unrest and political gridlock.

As both conservative and liberal factions dig in, South Korea braces for a defining moment in its political history.