Seoul Court Orders Yoon's Release, Points Out Need to Ensure Clarity in Investigation

Latest Court Decision Will Likely Lend Some Wind to the Ruling Party's Sails: Analyst

- Wendy Teo

SEOUL - A Seoul court has ordered the release of South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol from custody, a decision that one analyst says will likely be advantageous to his ruling People Power Party (PPP).

Mr Yoon has been detained for nearly two months since his arrest on Jan 15 on charges of insurrection for his ill-fated martial law decree on Dec 3, 2024. Insurrection is one of the few criminal charges from which a South Korean president does not have immunity.

On March 7, the Seoul Central District Court made the ruling after Mr Yoon's lawyers challenged his arrest on the grounds that the lead agency involved had no legal basis to investigate him on insurrection charges.

The agency, the Corruption Investigation Office for High-Ranking Officials, had argued that it can investigate insurrection as a crime linked to abuse of power, which falls under it.

The court said it was "reasonable to cancel the arrest" as there was a need "to ensure clarity in the procedure and eliminate any doubts about the legality of the investigation process".

Mr Yoon's legal team hailed the court decision as "a confirmation that the rule of law is still alive".

The team urged the prosecution to immediately agree to Mr Yoon's release, even though it technically has seven days to appeal against the court decision, during which he has to remain in custody.