A South Korean court has ordered the release of President Yoon Suk Yeol from prison after he was impeached and arrested over his brief martial law declaration in December, according to local broadcaster YTN. Yoon had requested his release after his arrest in late January, making him the first sitting president in South Korea to be taken into custody. He was later indicted on charges of insurrection related to his martial law decision.
The martial law declaration created a leadership vacuum at a time when South Korea was facing increasing threats from North Korea and trade tensions under President Donald Trump. Yoon’s defense team argued that his arrest was illegal, citing an improper jurisdiction for the arrest warrant and a missed deadline for prosecution. However, prosecutors rejected these claims, insisting that proper procedures were followed.
This ruling comes as the Constitutional Court is still deliberating on whether to permanently remove Yoon from office in his impeachment trial. The court held its final hearing on February 25, and a decision is expected soon.