Political Turmoil Over Yoon's Detention Cancellation... Ruling Party Including Han Dong-hoon "Welcomes" vs Opposition "Prosecutors Must Appeal"

Ruling and opposition parties sharply divided over court's decision
People Power Party: "Truly fortunate, Constitutional Court should review deliberations"
Democratic Party: "Prosecution must file an immediate appeal"

Regarding the court's acceptance on the 7th of President Yoon Seok-yeol's request to cancel his detention, political circles showed clearly divided positions along party lines. Not only the ruling party leadership but also ruling party hopefuls who had raised impeachment related to President Yoon's emergency martial law expressed a 'welcoming' stance on the court's decision. On the other hand, the opposition urged the prosecution to appeal so that the detention could continue, shifting responsibility to the prosecution and others.

The People Power Party welcomes the court's decision... Han Dong-hoon and Yoo Seung-min express welcoming positions

Emergency Response Committee Chairman Kwon Young-se and Floor Leader Kwon Seong-dong held an emergency press conference immediately after the court accepted President Yoon's request to cancel detention, calling it "an important moment confirming that the rule of law and judicial justice in the Republic of Korea are alive." Chairman Kwon said, "Until now, the public had to endure great confusion and anxiety due to excessive investigations with political motives," adding, "I hope this decision becomes an opportunity to restore the constitutional order of the Republic of Korea and that it leads to national unity." Floor Leader Kwon also said, "I truly welcome and feel fortunate that the constitutional principle of non-detention during trial has been realized, albeit belatedly," and added, "The court made a reasonable judgment, though late."

There were also voices opposing the prosecution's appeal. Floor Leader Kwon warned, "If the prosecution immediately appeals citing deviation from past practices, it would be abandoning its mission as an institution protecting human rights for the people."

Regarding the Constitutional Court, which is currently conducting the impeachment trial, they also demanded a review of the deliberation. Shin Dong-wook, senior spokesperson for the People Power Party, emphasized in a statement, "The Constitutional Court must thoroughly examine whether there was any excessive legal interpretation or political consideration involved, and whether any elements damaging the constitutional order existed." Floor Leader Kwon said, "Personally, I expect this court's stance to be fully reflected in the ongoing impeachment trial process."

On the 7th, Kwon Young-se, Chairman of the Emergency Response Committee of the People Power Party, and Kwon Seong-dong, Floor Leader, entered the conference room at the National Assembly for an urgent press conference following the court's approval of President Yoon Seok-yeol's request to cancel his detention. 2025.3.7 Photo by Kim Hyun-min

Former People Power Party leader Han Dong-hoon and former lawmaker Yoo Seung-min, who had criticized President Yoon's emergency martial law decision, also expressed welcoming positions regarding the court's decision.

Han, who advocated for President Yoon's impeachment, said on social media (SNS), "You must have been very exhausted mentally and physically," and added, "I hope you take good care of your health and can fully exercise your right to defense." He also expressed that the cancellation of detention was natural. He said, "The law must be equal before everyone," and "The president should not suffer more disadvantages." He further stated, "If the court judged that there were procedural issues, then cancellation of detention is natural."

Former lawmaker Yoo also said he respects and welcomes the court's decision. He said, "From the beginning, the investigation by the Corruption Investigation Office for High-ranking Officials (CIO) into the president had issues with investigative authority, yet the CIO conducted an excessive investigation, filed charges for abuse of power and then for treason, and the prosecution did not adhere to detention periods, showing procedural flaws," adding, "From now on, the prosecution's maintenance of the indictment, the court's trial, and the Constitutional Court's decision on these important issues must proceed without any deviation from law and principles so that the court, Constitutional Court, and prosecution can earn the people's trust."

Opposition shocked by court decision... Immediate appeal urged

The opposition urged the prosecution to appeal immediately regarding this situation.

Park Chan-dae, floor leader of the Democratic Party of Korea, said after a party meeting, "Regretful about the acceptance of the request to cancel detention," and added, "The prosecution must immediately appeal." Han Min-soo, spokesperson for the Democratic Party, also stated after an emergency supreme council meeting, "What does it mean to release the ringleader of the rebellion?" and "The prosecution must immediately appeal." Han pointed out, "This court decision is completely unrelated to and will not affect the Constitutional Court's impeachment trial of President Yoon," and said, "(The decision to cancel detention) is a procedural issue arising from differences in interpretation between the prosecution and the court regarding the calculation of detention periods."

On the 7th, when the court granted the request to cancel the arrest of President Yoon Seok-yeol, Lee Jae-myung, leader of the Democratic Party of Korea, attended an emergency party meeting held at the National Assembly. 2025.3.7 Photo by Kim Hyun-min

Opposition hopefuls echoed the same voice. Former Governor of Gyeongnam Kim Kyung-soo said, "I cannot accept the decision to release the ringleader of the rebellion, Yoon Seok-yeol," and urged, "The prosecution must immediately appeal." Kim said, "The fact that the ringleader of the rebellion is among the people alone makes the people tremble with anxiety again," adding, "I never expected the suppression of the loyalist coup to be easy. Let's end the rebellion through impeachment of (President Yoon)."

Gyeonggi Governor Kim Dong-yeon also criticized via SNS, saying, "This is beyond common sense and unacceptable," and questioned, "Isn't the seriousness of the crime of rebellion overlooked while emphasizing procedural strictness?" Former Prime Minister Kim Boo-kyum said, "(The court's judgment) is detached from the people's common sense. It is an unexpected decision," and drew a clear line, saying, "This is definitely separate from (President Yoon's) impeachment trial."

Lee Jun-seok, lawmaker of the Reform New Party, said, "It seems that President Yoon Seok-yeol's detention was canceled due to the prosecution's procedural error regarding the inclusion of the period of detention review after arrest," and criticized, "The court's judgment must be respected, and I deeply regret the mishandling by the CIO and prosecution in such a critical matter." The Reform New Party also stated in a commentary, "This court decision pointed out procedural defects, and it does not change the essence of the illegal martial law and rebellion incident committed by President Yoon," and clearly pointed out, "The People Power Party's claims for a 'full review of the Constitutional Court's deliberation' or 'he should not have been detained in the first place' are not valid."

Earlier, the court accepted President Yoon's request to cancel detention. The bench accepted the president's side's argument that it is reasonable to calculate the detention period by actual time rather than by days, and judged that it is difficult to consider the period during which investigation-related documents were with the court for detention review as excluded from the detention period.

Accordingly, the court's judgment is that President Yoon should be considered as having been indicted after the detention period expired.