Seoul: South Korea’s ruling People Power Party (PPP) and the main opposition Democratic Party (DP) clashed on Saturday following a court decision to release impeached President Yoon Suk Yeol, who remains detained despite the ruling.
According to Anadolu Agency, the PPP staged a protest outside the Supreme Prosecutors’ Office in southern Seoul, demanding Yoon’s immediate release. The party’s interim leader, Kwon Young-se, condemned the ongoing detention as ‘illegal’ and urged the prosecution to resist ‘threats from the opposition party.’ Approximately 35 PPP lawmakers joined the demonstration, vocally supporting Yoon’s release.
PPP’s floor leader, Kweon Seong-dong, further warned that the party would file a complaint against the prosecution, accusing them of ‘illegal detention’ if Yoon was not freed. Meanwhile, the Democratic Party called on the prosecution to appeal the court’s decision, describing a failure to do so as a ‘betrayal of the people and a concession to the ringleader of an insurrection.’
The Seoul Central District Court’s decision to release Yoon was based on procedural errors. Prosecutors have a seven-day window to appeal the ruling. Yoon faces criminal investigations for abuse of power and leading an insurrection, following his removal from office by the National Assembly on December 14, 2024.
Yoon’s detention began on January 15, and he was formally arrested on January 19 amid a growing investigation into a failed martial law decree, which he defended. He was subsequently indicted on January 26. The Constitutional Court is tasked with deciding Yoon’s fate within 180 days of his impeachment, with a judgment expected in March.