Prosecutors in South Korea have vowed to continue pursuing President Yoon Suk Yeol’s conviction for insurrection, despite a court ruling that ordered his release from detention.
Prosecutor General Shim Woo-jung said on Monday that while he respected the court's decision, he disagreed with its conclusion that the indictment had been filed past the legally allowed deadline, making Yoon’s detention unlawful.
“I’ve directed that the prosecution present arguments on various disputes during trial, and we’ll do everything we can to pursue this indictment,” Shim told reporters when asked whether the case would be dropped.
Yoon has been on trial since February 20, facing allegations that he led an insurrection by declaring martial law on December 3—a decree he lifted after about six hours. His legal team argues the case is politically motivated and lacks legal merit.
The impeached president walked free from detention on Saturday, just shy of two months after his arrest. While he remains suspended from power, the Constitutional Court is expected to rule in the coming days on whether to reinstate him or remove him from office permanently.