Seoul, March 8
Impeached South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol was released from jail on Saturday, a day after a court's ruling that allowed him to stand trial without physical detention over his failed bid to impose martial law in December.
Waving to his supporters, Yoon walked out of the Seoul Detention Centre, 52 days after he was detained on charges of inciting an insurrection. However, impeachment and criminal trials against Yoon will continue.
Yoon's release came shortly after Prosecutor General Shim Woo-jung decided not to appeal the court's ruling to release the suspended president.
Bowing deeply to his supporters, Yoon arrived at his official residence in central Seoul on Saturday evening.
"I appreciate the court's courage and determination in correcting the illegality," Yoon said in a statement.
With his release, Yoon will be able to stand trial without physical detention.
On Friday, the court said it approved Yoon's request after determining that his January 26 indictment on insurrection charges, which allowed his detention to be extended, had come hours after the initial detention period had already expired.
The 10-day initial detention period excludes the time documents were sent to a court for a review of whether to issue an arrest warrant, pushing back the deadline of Yoon's detention to around 9 a.m. January 26, whereas the prosecution indicted him shortly before 7 p.m. that day, according to the court.
Yoon's legal team accused the prosecution of delaying Yoon's release, which came 27 hours after the court's decision.