South Korean President Yoon Suk-yeol was released from custody on Saturday and returned to the presidential residence, thanking the court for its courage and decisiveness in correcting his illegal actions.
Yoon Suk-yeol sparked controversy last December 3rd when he abruptly declared a state of emergency, only to lift it the following day. This move led to his suspension from parliament in that month, and he was arrested on January 15 on charges of inciting insurrection, finally being released on Saturday after 52 days.
The 64-year-old Yoon Suk-yeol remains suspended from his duties even after his release, with his criminal and impeachment trials still ongoing.
According to reports from Yonhap News Agency, Yoon Suk-yeol issued a statement through his legal team on Saturday, expressing gratitude for the court’s courage and decisiveness in correcting his illegal actions. He also thanked the citizens and the younger generation who supported him during the harsh winter, as well as the leadership of his ruling party, the People Power Party.
Upon his release on Saturday, Yoon Suk-yeol was seen wearing a dark suit without a tie, casually smiling as he stepped out of the car, waving to the crowd and bowing in gratitude to his supporters.
On Friday, the Seoul Central District Court ruled to revoke the arrest warrant for President Yoon Suk-yeol, paving the way for his release.
His lawyers stated that the court’s decision “confirmed procedural and substantive issues with the president’s detention,” calling it the “beginning of the journey to restore the rule of law.”
The main opposition party, the Democratic Party, criticized the prosecutor’s decision for “putting the country and the people in crisis” and urged the Constitutional Court to swiftly impeach Yoon Suk-yeol.
In the impeachment trial, the Constitutional Court is expected to decide in the coming days whether to reinstate Yoon Suk-yeol to his position or remove him from office.
Yoon Suk-yeol expressed, “I heard that some have chosen to sacrifice themselves in protest against my arrest, which saddens me deeply. There are also those who are imprisoned for their protests, and I pray for their swift release. To those who are on hunger strike over this matter, I am deeply concerned for your health. To my supporters, your stance has been made clear, and it is time to end the protests.”
According to unofficial estimates cited by Yonhap News Agency, around 55,000 supporters of Yoon Suk-yeol gathered in key areas of Seoul on Saturday, while at the same time, 32,500 people demonstrated against him near the Constitutional Court.