Impeached South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol was released from prison Saturday after a court ruled his detention over insurrection charges was invalid.
The conservative president faces charges for his December effort to impose martial law that thrust the country into chaos. The South Korean parliament separately voted to oust Yoon on Dec. 3 with a 204-85 vote.
Footage shared online shows the impeached president leaving the prison on Saturday, raising his fist and bowing to his supporters who met him with cheers. He was arrested and indicted in January.
Yoon’s release comes after the Seoul Central District Court approved the president’s appeal against his arrest. The court ruled Friday that prosecutors held him in detention too long before indicting him and cited questions about the legality of investigations into the president.
In a Saturday statement from his legal team, Yoon said he “appreciates the courage and decision by the Seoul Central District Court to correct illegality.” He also thanked his allies and asked those participating in a hunger strike in protest of his impeachment to stop, The Associated Press reported.
South Korean prosecutors opted not to appeal the Friday court decision as law allows them to continue to hold a suspect while pursuing an appeal, even after an arrest is canceled by the court.
The liberal opposition, which led the impeachment effort, condemned the prosecutors move and Yoon’s release, according to the AP. The party’s spokesperson Cho Seung-rae urged the Constitutional Court to dismiss Yoon to avoid further public unrest and anxiety.
The upper court is still considering whether to formally dismiss the impeachment and reinstate Yoon as the nation’s leader. If the court upholds the impeachment, an election will be held to find his successor within the next two months.
The Seoul court’s decision does not change or affect the insurrection charges under deliberation by the Constitutional Court, but it does mean Yoon will be free while standing trial.
Yoon apologized for his brief martial law decree, but later doubled down and defended the move, arguing the liberal party obstructed his political agenda.
He dispatched troops to surround the parliament after the decree was put in place. Lawmakers were able to get past the military blockade and later voted to reject the move. The Cabinet lifted the decree a few hours later.
Investigators have alleged Yoon’s decision amounted to rebellion, which if convicted could result in him facing the death penalty or life imprisonment.
