South Korean parties face off over court ruling to release impeached president

ISTANBUL

South Korea’s ruling party and main opposition party on Saturday faced off over a court decision to release impeached President Yoon Suk Yeol, who is still being detained.

The ruling People Power Party (PPP) demanded Yoon's release, calling his detention “illegal,” during a protest in front of the Supreme Prosecutors' Office in southern Seoul.

“They are still detaining the president 20 hours after the court ruled for his release,” the PPP's interim leader Kwon Young-se said at the protest, calling on the prosecution to not “give in to threats from the opposition party.”

Some 35 PPP lawmakers attended the protest chanting “release the president.”

Party’s floor leader Kweon Seong-dong also warned the prosecution that they would file a complaint against them on charges of “illegal detention” if the president was not released.

Meanwhile, the main opposition Democratic Party (DP) urged the prosecution to appeal the court's decision during a rally near the same prosecution office.

It said that ailing to appeal the decision would be a “betrayal of the people and a concession to the ringleader of an insurrection.”

The Seoul Central District Court ruled Friday to release Yoon from the detention center due to procedural errors.

Prosecutors have seven days to file an appeal following the ruling.

Yoon is under criminal investigation for abuse of power and leading an insurrection.

The National Assembly voted overwhelmingly to remove Yoon from office on Dec. 14, 2024.

Yoon was first detained on Jan. 15 and formally arrested on Jan. 19 in a widening probe into the botched martial law decree, which he defended. He was indicted on Jan. 26.

Under the constitution, the Constitutional Court must decide whether to remove or reinstate Yoon within 180 days after his impeachment by the National Assembly.

The court is expected to deliver its judgment in March.