A court in South Korea has ordered the release of President Yoon Suk Yeol, who has been removed from office, from prison, allowing him to appear in court for his trial on charges of rebellion without being physically detained. Yoon was arrested and charged in January for his martial law decree on December 3, which triggered a political crisis in the country.
Some high-ranking military and police officials have stated that the president ordered them to remove legislators to obstruct the voting on his decree or to arrest politicians. If the Constitutional Court upholds the dismissal, Yoon will be officially removed from office and elections will be held to choose his successor within two months.
The main opposition party, the Democratic Party, has called on the prosecution to appeal the court ruling immediately. According to South Korean law, a president can impose martial law on the country in times of war and in emergency situations, but many experts believe that South Korea was not in such conditions when Yoon issued his decree.
The hearings of the political trial in the Constitutional Court concluded at the end of February, and the court is expected to decide soon whether to uphold his dismissal or restore his power. If found guilty of rebellion, Yoon could face a death sentence or life imprisonment. Massive protests from both opponents and supporters of Yoon have filled the streets of Seoul and other cities.
