A South Korean court has ordered the release from prison of impeached President Yoon Suk Yeol, Korean media reported on Friday.
The head of state was arrested in January in connection with a martial law decree he issued in December, Yonhap reported. Investigators believe the decree could amount to sedition. If Yoon is found guilty, he could face life imprisonment.
The Seoul Central District Court made the decision to release the president on Friday. Yoon is expected to be released immediately and take part in the trial while at large. The president’s lawyers argued that the 19 arrest warrants issued for him were invalid due to procedural irregularities. Yoon became the first sitting South Korean president to be arrested on criminal charges.
Yoon filed a petition with the Seoul Central District Court in February. He claimed that his indictment in connection with the declaration of martial law was illegal.
South Korea political crisis
On 3 December, Yoon declared martial law in the country, explaining it by the need to protect the constitutional order and prevent threats from North Korea.
The opposition, led by Democratic Party leader Lee Jae-myung, did not support this decision. The parliament met in an emergency session and voted to lift martial law. The opposition soon demanded that the president resign, and police launched an investigation against him on suspicion of attempted coup d’état.
Amid the crisis, the defence minister resigned and apologised for the imposition of martial law, which caused concern among citizens. The head of the presidential administration and ten senior advisers also resigned.
On December 14, the parliament impeached Yoon Suk Yeol, and on December 31, the court issued a warrant for his arrest. However, the detention proved difficult: in early January, the president’s supporters and his guards prevented police from entering the residence. It was only in a second attempt, in mid-January, that he was arrested.
