A South Korean court rejected a petition on Thursday, January 16, from the legal team of impeached President Yoon Suk Yeol, seeking his release following his detention for questioning over rebellion allegations related to his martial law declaration last month.
Yoon, who was detained at his residence in Seoul after over 10 hours of questioning on January 15 by the Corruption Investigation Office for High-Ranking Officials, was sent to a detention facility near the capital. During the questioning, Yoon exercised his right to remain silent and refused further questioning the next day, with his lawyers arguing that the investigation was unlawful.
Yoon’s defense team asked the Seoul Central District Court to review the validity of the detention warrant issued by the Seoul Western District Court, but the petition was denied late Thursday.
Yoon had previously avoided multiple requests for questioning, leading to a large-scale law enforcement operation that involved hundreds of personnel to detain him at his home.
The investigation, led by the anti-corruption agency in collaboration with the police and military, is focused on whether Yoon’s martial law declaration amounted to attempted rebellion. The agency now has 48 hours to either request a formal arrest or release him.
Yoon’s lawyers filed complaints with prosecutors, calling the raid at the presidential residence illegal. Yoon did not attend a review hearing for his detention warrant on Thursday due to security concerns, according to his lawyer, Seok Dong-hyeon.
In response, hundreds of Yoon’s supporters gathered outside the court and detention center, demanding his release.
Yoon sparked South Korea’s most significant political crisis since its democratization in the late 1980s when he declared martial law and stationed troops around the National Assembly on December 3. The standoff ended after hours, and lawmakers voted to lift the measure.
On December 14, the opposition-dominated assembly impeached Yoon for rebellion, suspending his presidential powers. His fate now lies with the Constitutional Court, which is deliberating on whether to formally remove him from office or reinstate him.
Before his detention, Yoon recorded a video message, claiming the “rule of law has completely collapsed” in the country. He argued that the anti-corruption agency lacked the authority to investigate his actions but accepted detention to prevent violence.
If indicted on rebellion and abuse of power charges, Yoon could remain under arrest until the first court ruling, which typically occurs within six months. Conviction for rebellion could result in life imprisonment or the death penalty under South Korean law.
