Former South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol, who was impeached, has been released from prison following a court decision that annulled his arrest warrant on insurrection allegations. Images from local TV broadcasts displayed Yoon departing from prison on Saturday. He waved and bowed to his supporters, a gesture of gratitude and acknowledgment of their support.

Yoon’s legal team argued and achieved the cancellation of his arrest warrant, claiming that his detention had both procedural and substantive issues. The court’s acceptance of Yoon’s plea was seen as the start of a journey to re-establish the rule of law by Yoon’s lawyers.

Initially apprehended in January for imposing martial law briefly in December, Yoon faced severe charges, including insurrection, which could have led to the death penalty or a life sentence if convicted. Earlier on Saturday, South Korea’s prosecutors directed the release of Yoon from detention, according to a statement from the prosecution, as reported by Yonhap News Agency.

Reflecting on the court’s ruling, legal analysts note that while it does not exonerate Yoon, it does bring into question the validity of the charges brought against him. This ambiguity could provide a basis for higher courts to revisit or overturn any future convictions. The conclusion of arguments in Yoon’s impeachment trial is imminent, with the court anticipated to rule soon on either permanently removing Yoon from office or reinstating him. In the event of his removal, a new presidential election would need to be held within 60 days.

Source: https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2025/3/8/south-koreas-impeached-president-yoon-released-from-prison?traffic_source=rss