South Korean Court Cancels Arrest Letter, President Yoon Will Be Released From Prison?

JAKARTA - The South Korean court canceled President Yoon Suk Yeol's impeachment warrant. This ruling has the potential to pave the way for his release from prison as Yoon faces trial on charges of rebellion over the imposition of martial law in a short time.

The Seoul Central District court said its decision was based on the time the indictment was issued after the initial detention period ended, and noted "questions about legality" of the investigation process involving two separate institutions.

The verdict did not invalidate the criminal charges that led to Yoon's arrest on January 15, and the case was separate from his impeachment which was still pending at the Constitutional Court.

The two cases were sparked by his military emergency declaration on December 3 which also led to the impeachment of the prime minister, who had taken over from office as acting president.

South Korean Finance Minister Choi Sang-mok, who is the acting head of state, has tried to calm down the economic market and assure international partners amid chaos in government leadership.

Yoon's lawyer and his presidential office welcomed the district court's ruling, saying the ruling showed the case against Yoon was filed for political purposes without legal justification.

"The court's ruling to cancel the arrests shows that the country's rule of law still applies," Yoon's lawyer said in a statement.

Yoon's lawyer called for his immediate release, although admitting he may not be released immediately as prosecutors can file an appeal. the prosecutor's office did not immediately comment on the ruling.

Yoon's defense team argues the warrant issued on January 19 extending Yoon's detention is invalid because of requests filed by prosecutors for procedural defects.

He also claimed the Corruption Investigation Office for High Officials (CIO), which carried out the first phase of a criminal investigation against Yoon, had no legal authority to do so on charges of rebellion.