South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol Cleared to be released from Detention after Court Ruling

South Korea’s President Yoon Suk Yeol, arrested in January for allegedly staging a rebellion, was cleared for release by a court on Friday. Yoon had been arrested after the lawmakers decided to impeach him, and criminal charges against him were that he had summoned martial law in December.

The Seoul Central District Court ruled that the charges of insurrection were beyond the agency that had requested Yoon’s arrest. The court also inquired whether the charges were laid when Yoon’s detention term had already expired. Thus, the court withdrew his arrest warrant to bring about clarity in the legal process.

Yoon’s lawyers hailed the verdict, saying that it proved the rule of law is strong in South Korea. Yoon will now be able to wait out the outcome of his impeachment trial at home and not in jail. His release is expected to be greeted warmly by his fans but might outrage opposition parties.

The Constitutional Court of South Korea, the highest court in the land, has not yet made a decision on whether to uphold Yoon’s impeachment or reinstate him to office.