South Korean Prosecutors have vowed to continue pursuing a conviction against impeached President Yoon Suk Yeol despite his recent release from prison, following a controversial court ruling that declared his detention illegal.
President Yoon, who has been facing criminal trial since February 20, 2025, was released from Seoul Detention Center on March 8, 2025, after the court ruled that his detention exceeded the legal time limit. However, Prosecutor General Shim Woo-jung made it clear that the prosecution’s case against Yoon
The legal battle against impeached South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol continues to intensify as prosecutors have vowed to push for his conviction, despite a court ruling that ordered his release from prison after nearly two months in detention.
Yoon Suk Yeol, who was impeached and arrested on February 20, 2025, for leading an insurrection after declaring martial law during a nationwide political unrest, was freed on March 8, 2025, after the Seoul High Court ruled his detention illegal due to procedural violations. However, the Prosecutor General Shim Woo-jung has insisted that the criminal trial against Yoon will proceed without compromise.
Prosecutor General: Yoon Must Face Justice
Speaking at a press briefing on Monday, Prosecutor General Shim Woo-jung stated that the court’s decision to release Yoon did not imply his innocence. Instead, he emphasized that the prosecution’s case for insurrection is still valid and would be pursued to the fullest extent of the law.
“While we respect the court’s ruling to release Mr. Yoon, we strongly believe that the evidence of his involvement in the insurrection is overwhelming,” Shim stated. “Our legal team is determined to present solid arguments during the trial to ensure accountability.”
Yoon was arrested in February 2025 after he declared martial law on December 3, 2024, in response to mass protests demanding his resignation over alleged election interference and abuse of power. The martial law, which lasted only six hours, resulted in dozens of casualties, widespread violence, and mass detentions of opposition leaders.
The prosecution’s main argument is that Yoon deliberately abused his presidential power to suppress dissent under the pretext of national security, ultimately constituting an act of insurrection.
Court Ruling Sparks Mixed Reaction
On Friday, March 8, 2025, the Seoul High Court issued a surprising ruling, ordering Yoon’s immediate release, citing that his detention period had exceeded the legal time limit as per South Korean law. The court also noted that the prosecution’s request to extend his detention did not adhere to proper legal procedures, rendering his continued incarceration unlawful.
However, the court did not drop the charges against Yoon, meaning he will continue to face trial for insurrection, abuse of power, and human rights violations.
*”The court simply ruled on the legality of his detention, not his innocence. The charges of insurrection and misuse of power remain intact,”