South Korea’s impeached president, Yoon Suk Yeol, has been released from detention after a court in Seoul ruled that his arrest was unlawful due to legal technicalities.
Yoon, who was taken into custody in January after a dramatic standoff at the presidential palace, walked free on Saturday to the cheers of his supporters.
“I bow my head in gratitude to the people of this nation,” he stated in a message conveyed by his lawyers.
Despite his release after 52 days in detention, Yoon still faces trial on insurrection charges over his failed attempt to impose martial law in December.
The coup, which lasted only six hours, deeply divided the nation, and if convicted, he could face life imprisonment or even the death penalty.
Following his release, Yoon returned to the presidential compound in Seoul, where crowds of supporters welcomed him.
According to Yonhap, over 50,000 people rallied in his favor, while a slightly smaller counter-protest was also held.
His legal team successfully argued that his detention was illegal, a claim the courts accepted despite strong objections from prosecutors, who called the decision “unjust.”
While Yoon remains suspended from office, he still holds the title of South Korea’s president.
The Constitutional Court is expected to rule soon on whether to uphold his impeachment, which would formally remove him from power.
Authorities are preparing for potential unrest as tensions surrounding the case continue to rise.
Source-BBC
