By Gill Bikram Singh 
South Korea’s impeached president, Yoon Suk Yeol, has been freed from prison after a court ruled that he could stand trial for insurrection without being detained.
As he walked out of a detention center near Seoul on Saturday, Yoon greeted his supporters with a deep bow and clenched fists while they chanted his name and waved South Korean and U.S. flags. He then left in a black van for his presidential residence in the capital.
In a statement shared by his lawyers, Yoon thanked the court for what he called a decision to “correct illegality,” likely referring to disputes over his arrest. He also expressed gratitude to his supporters and urged those on hunger strikes protesting his impeachment to end their demonstrations.
On Saturday, an estimated 55,000 Yoon supporters gathered in central Seoul, while 32,500 people protested against him near the constitutional court, according to unofficial police reports. However, public sentiment remains largely against Yoon. A Gallup Korea poll found that 60% of respondents support his removal from office, while 35% oppose it.
Yoon was arrested in January after issuing a martial law decree on December 3, which plunged the country into political chaos. The opposition-controlled National Assembly later impeached him, suspending him from office. The constitutional court is now reviewing whether to formally remove him or reinstate him. If the court upholds his impeachment, a national election will be held within two months to select his replacement.
The Seoul central district court ruled on Friday that Yoon’s release was necessary due to concerns over the legality of his arrest. His legal team argued that the agency responsible for detaining him lacked the authority to investigate rebellion charges. The court also noted that his formal arrest period had expired before he was indicted.
Prosecutors chose not to appeal the decision, allowing Yoon’s release. However, the opposition Democratic Party, which led his impeachment, condemned the move, calling prosecutors “henchmen” of Yoon and urging the constitutional court to finalize his dismissal to prevent further unrest.
Yoon faces charges of rebellion, which carry penalties of either life imprisonment or the death sentence. While presidential immunity protects him from most criminal prosecutions, it does not cover serious charges like treason and rebellion.
Defending his actions, Yoon argued that his martial law decree was not meant to last long but was intended to expose what he described as the opposition’s obstruction of his government. His impeachment has deepened political divisions in South Korea, and experts warn that tensions will likely escalate regardless of the constitutional court’s decision.