South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol was released from detention on Saturday following a court decision that canceled his arrest warrant on insurrection charges.
The Seoul Central District Court ruled that the timing of his indictment and "questions about the legality" of the investigation process rendered the warrant invalid.
Yoon, 64, who has been in custody since January 15—the first South Korean president to be detained while in office—remains suspended from his duties as both his criminal and impeachment trials continue. The case stems from his brief imposition of martial law on December 3, an action that has sparked widespread legal and political controversy.
In a brief statement, Yoon expressed his gratitude to the court: "I would like to thank the Central District Court for their courage and determination in correcting the illegality." As he left the detention centre, a relaxed and smiling Yoon, dressed in a dark suit without a necktie and sporting streaks of grey, emerged from his car to cheers from supporters waving South Korean and U.S. flags.
His legal team hailed the decision as a confirmation that his detainment was flawed on both procedural and substantive levels, describing the ruling as "the beginning of a journey to restore rule of law." Meanwhile, the main opposition Democratic Party criticized the decision, accusing prosecutors of "throwing the country and people into crisis" and urging the Constitutional Court to remove Yoon from office as soon as possible. The court is expected to soon decide on his fate in the impeachment trial.
Public sentiment in South Korea remains sharply divided. While approximately 55,000 supporters rallied in Seoul’s central districts, about 32,500 demonstrators gathered near the Constitutional Court to protest against him. A recent Gallup Korea poll found that 60% of respondents believe Yoon should be removed from office, compared to 35% who oppose his removal.
As President Yoon’s legal battles persist, the nation watches closely for further developments that will determine his political future and the broader implications for South Korea’s governance.
U.S. President Donald Trump said Washington could destroy Iran’s infrastructure “in two days,” while Tehran warned the U.S. would...
Start your day informed with the AnewZ Morning Brief. Here are the top stories for the 16th of May, covering the l...
The thirteenth session of the World Urban Forum will open in Baku on Sunday, bringin...
Deep in the ancient forests of southern China, researchers have discovered a small, shy snake with an extraordinar...
Matiul Haq Khalis, Director General of Afghanistan’s National Environmental Protection Agency, has travelled to Baku to attend th...
Negotiations between Samsung Electronics and its workforce on Wednesday have broken down, officials said, raising fresh concerns over potential disruption to South Korea’s export-heavy economy.
British pop star Dua Lipa has filed a lawsuit against South Korean tech giant Samsung Electronics, seeking at least $15 million in damages over allegations that her image was used without permission to promote television sets.
A South Korean appeals court on Thursday reduced former Prime Minister Han Duck-soo’s prison sentence from 23 years to 15 years over his role in ex-President Yoon Suk Yeol’s brief imposition of martial law in 2024.
Hundreds of young people in South Korea have gathered in Seoul to take part in a city-backed “power nap contest”, aimed at drawing attention to the country’s chronic sleep deprivation.
Iran’s Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi said Tehran has “no trust” in the United States and will only consider negotiations if Washington shows seriousness. His remarks came as talks on Iran’s nuclear programme continued, with Trump and Xi also opposing Iran acquiring nuclear weapons.
The U.S.-Israeli war with Iran loomed over U.S. President Donald Trump's visit to China, as signs emerged that the conflict is causing a shift in alliances across the Middle East.
Thousands of fans turned out in Iran's capital Tehran for a massive farewell ceremony on Wednesday night for their national football team, wishing them success before their departure for the World Cup 2026 matches co-hosted by the United States and Mexico.
British Prime Minister Keir Starmer was fighting for his political survival on Thursday (14 May) after Health Secretary Wes Streeting resigned, saying he had “lost confidence” in Starmer’s leadership.
Chinese President Xi Jinping and U.S. President Donald Trump are holding high-level talks in Beijing on Thursday, following a ceremonial welcome, with both leaders highlighting cooperation despite ongoing tensions.
China has launched the world’s first experiment to study how artificial human embryos develop in space, marking a major step in understanding whether humans could one day reproduce beyond Earth.
Every day, an elderly woman in China’s Shandong province looks forward to a video call from her son. He asks about her health, tells her he has been busy with work, and promises he will come home once he has saved enough money. She tells him she misses him. He tells her to take care of herself.
Start your day informed with the AnewZ Morning Brief. Here are the top stories for the 16th of May, covering the latest developments you need to know.
Deep in the ancient forests of southern China, researchers have discovered a small, shy snake with an extraordinary survival trick: when threatened, it creates the illusion that it has two heads.
The United States is considering asking Israel to transfer part of the tax revenues withheld from the Palestinian Authority (PA) to Donald Trump’s Board of Peace to help fund Gaza’s post-war reconstruction, according to five sources familiar with the discussions.
You can download the AnewZ application from Play Store and the App Store.
What is your opinion on this topic?
Leave the first comment