South Korean court releases impeached president from detention

By Saadet Gokce

ISTANBUL (AA) – South Korea's impeached President Yoon Suk Yeol was released from the detention center where he was being held on Friday after a Seoul court accepted a plea to cancel his arrest over his failed Dec. 3 imposition of martial law.

Yoon filed the request with the Seoul Central District Court last month, pleading that his indictment over the short-lived martial law declaration was illegal.

Yoon, who was indicted on charges of leading an insurgency over the Dec. 3 martial law, will stand trial without being detained.

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

The court is expected to deliver its judgment in early March.