Cancellation of Yoon's Detention Sparks May Organizations and Gwangju Civil Society's "Direct Challenge to Justice"

Joint Statement by Three May 18 Organizations:
"Undermining Democracy"

"The decision to cancel the detention of the main culprit of the rebellion (President Yoon Seok-yeol) is a direct challenge to justice."

The May organizations and Gwangju civil society strongly opposed the court's decision to cancel the detention of President Yoon Seok-yeol on the 7th.

On the 7th, citizens at the Seoul Station waiting room watched news related to President Yoon Seok-yeol after the court accepted his request to cancel the arrest. Photo by Yonhap News

The three May 18 organizations (the Bereaved Families Association, the Injured Association, and the Meritorious Persons Association) and the May 18 Memorial Foundation issued a joint statement on the day, condemning the decision by saying, "The decision to cancel the detention of the main culprit of the rebellion is a direct challenge to justice," and "It is an act that denies judicial justice and seriously damages democracy."

The organizations stated, "It is absolutely incomprehensible that the person who planned and led the rebellion is not only exempt from legal judgment but is released by the decision of the judiciary," and claimed, "Yoon Seok-yeol and his group have already taken control of the courts to suit their tastes and have planted loyal subordinates."

They continued, "If release occurs without punishment for the rebellion, it sets a precedent that encourages insurrection," and pointed out, "The decision to cancel President Yoon Seok-yeol's detention clearly betrays the public's sense of justice and is a dangerously reckless measure that grants immunity for the rebellion."

The May organizations demanded ▲ the court publicly disclose and explain the clear grounds for this cancellation of detention to the public ▲ the prosecution and investigative authorities thoroughly investigate and prosecute the crime of rebellion to ensure Yoon Seok-yeol faces legal judgment ▲ the National Assembly immediately prepare legislative measures to enable punishment for the crime of rebellion.

Police are strengthening guard duty near the presidential residence in Hannam-dong, Yongsan-gu, Seoul, on the 7th, where the court released President Yoon Seok-yeol, who was arrested and indicted on charges of being the 'ringleader of the rebellion' during the emergency martial law situation. Photo by Yonhap News

The Gwangju Emergency Action for the Immediate Resignation of the Yoon Seok-yeol Regime and Social Reform (Emergency Action), consisting of over 180 civic groups, also issued an urgent statement on the day condemning President Yoon's release.

The Emergency Action pointed out, "The release of the rebel leader Yoon Seok-yeol is the judiciary succumbing to intimidation by far-right collaborators of the rebellion and is an act of abandoning judicial justice." They added, "Yoon Seok-yeol's release itself is driving the Republic of Korea into a disaster greater than the rebellion," and urged, "The prosecution must immediately appeal to completely block Yoon Seok-yeol's release."

Kang Ki-jung, Mayor of Gwangju Metropolitan City, criticized the court's decision on Facebook on the 7th, saying, "There are more than enough reasons to detain President Yoon Seok-yeol." He further demanded, "The prosecution should immediately appeal, the Constitutional Court should promptly dismiss him, and then reapply for an arrest warrant."

Meanwhile, the 25th Criminal Division of the Seoul Central District Court (Presiding Judge Ji Gui-yeon) canceled President Yoon's detention on the day, stating that the detention was unjust.