Impeached South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol released from custody

Impeached South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol was released from custody on March 7 after a court granted his request to cancel his arrest over his controversial imposition of martial law last year.

The Seoul Central District Court accepted Yoon’s appeal, in which he argued that his indictment over the December 3 martial law declaration was illegal. The embattled president contended that the prosecution had failed to meet legal procedures, as the indictment was issued after the expiration of his arrest period. The prosecution, however, maintained that the indictment was legitimate and opposed his release, Caliber.Az reports via South Korean media.

Yoon’s legal team challenged the validity of the arrest warrant issued on January 19, asserting that the request filed by prosecutors was procedurally flawed. Following the court's ruling, Yoon was released after nearly two months in detention.

The controversy began when Yoon declared martial law on December 3, citing the need to root out “anti-state” elements. However, he lifted the decree just six hours later after Parliament voted to reject it. Despite this, the opposition-led National Assembly moved to impeach him weeks later, accusing him of violating his constitutional duties by imposing emergency military rule.

Yoon became the first sitting South Korean president to be arrested on criminal charges when he was taken into custody on January 15. His arrest followed a warrant issued on December 31 as part of a criminal investigation into his martial law decree. Authorities attempted to detain him earlier, but he remained inside his heavily fortified presidential compound, with the Presidential Security Service blocking investigators for days.

The scandal has plunged South Korea into political turmoil. Parliament also voted to impeach Prime Minister and acting president Han Duck-soo, further deepening the crisis. Finance Minister Choi Sang-mok has since assumed the role of acting president.

Meanwhile, Yoon faces an ongoing criminal trial and a police investigation into allegations of special obstruction of public duty, a charge that carries a maximum penalty of five years in prison.

By Vugar Khalilov