South Korean Court Rules on Impeached President Yoon Suk Yeol's Detention

On March 7, 2025, the Seoul Central District Court mandated the release of Yoon Suk Yeol, South Korea's impeached president currently facing insurrection charges for his controversial imposition of martial law last December. The court found that prosecutors violated procedural regulations by detaining him longer than permitted before formally indicting him on January 26. However, Yoon's release is on hold as prosecutors plan to appeal the ruling within a week, according to his attorney, Seok Dong-hyun.

Yoon was arrested on January 15, and his time in detention has raised questions regarding the legality of the procedural guidelines followed by law enforcement. His martial law declaration on December 3—made to counter perceived opposition threats—provoked unprecedented political upheaval, leading to his impeachment by the National Assembly shortly thereafter. Despite the court's ruling addressing his detention, it did not delve into the specifics of the insurrection charges he faces. As the first South Korean president ever to endure criminal proceedings while in office, Yoon’s case continues to garner significant national and international attention.

Choe Sang-Hun, a seasoned reporter from Seoul, covers this unfolding political drama that is leaving its mark on South Korean democracy.