South Korean court cancels arrest warrant for impeached President Yoon

The presidential office welcomed the decision, saying the Corruption Investigation Office for High-Ranking Officials, which is leading the joint inquiry, had “conducted an unlawful, performative investigation despite lacking jurisdiction.”

Yoon’s conservative People Power Party also hailed the cancellation of his detention.

“This is justice served,” chief spokesperson Shin Dong-wook said in a statement. “Though delayed, it was a decision that had to be made.”

Yoon’s opponents urged prosecutors to appeal the ruling. The leftist NGO People’s Solidarity for Participatory Democracy, which has been leading candlelight vigils in support of Yoon’s impeachment, said the ruling was based solely on procedural issues and “does not, in any way, mean that Yoon Suk-yeol is innocent of insurrection.” 

If released, Yoon would return to the presidential residence for the duration of his insurrection trial as well as a trial to determine whether to uphold his December impeachment by lawmakers.

During the impeachment trial, Yoon said he used the martial law decree only to break political deadlock with the opposition-controlled legislature and denied ordering military commanders to drag lawmakers out of parliament.

A ruling by the Constitutional Court is expected later this month.

Prosecutors have also been seeking to arrest members of the presidential security service who blocked authorities from executing the arrest warrant for Yoon, citing their duty to protect the president no matter the circumstances.

Lawyers for Yoon have said warrants for security service members would also be invalid.

Separately, South Korean media reported Friday that a Yoon supporter in his 80s had set himself on fire on the roof of an exhibition hall in Seoul. He was reportedly carrying fliers bearing the slogan “Long Live President Yoon!” Officials said he was hospitalized in critical condition.

Stella Kim reported from Seoul, and Jennifer Jett reported from Hong Kong.