"Impeached South Korean President Released from Prison"…Foreign Media Urgently Report Yoon's Release

Following the court's decision to cancel his detention, President Yoon Suk-yeol was released on the 8th, and foreign media quickly reported the news.

Yonhap News

Major foreign news agencies such as Reuters, AP, and AFP simultaneously published urgent articles in the afternoon reporting President Yoon's release from Seoul Detention Center and the atmosphere at the scene.

Reuters reported that upon his release, President Yoon issued a statement through his lawyer expressing gratitude for "the courage and determination of the Central District Court judges who corrected the illegality." The agency also reported that rallies opposing impeachment and protesting the cancellation of detention were held by Yoon’s supporters across Seoul.

AP sketched the scene, describing how President Yoon bowed in greeting to supporters waving both the Taegeukgi and the U.S. flag before boarding a security vehicle heading to his official residence in Hannam-dong, Yongsan-gu, Seoul. The agency also conveyed that in a statement released through his lawyer, President Yoon expressed thanks to his supporters and concern for those on a hunger strike opposing impeachment.

AFP, Kyodo, TASS, Bloomberg, and other news agencies also relayed the release news in real time.

The New York Times (NYT) featured an article on its homepage titled "Impeached South Korean President Released from Jail." The NYT explained that the Seoul Central District Court canceled the detention because the prosecution filed charges after the detention period had expired, and that the prosecution ordered the release instead of filing an immediate appeal. The outlet noted that President Yoon will now stand trial while not in detention, but this release does not affect the criminal trial on charges of rebellion or the impeachment proceedings.

CNN also placed a breaking news banner on its homepage reporting President Yoon’s release.

President Yoon was arrested and detained by the High-ranking Officials’ Crime Investigation Department on January 15. Since then, he had been tried while in detention following prosecution’s indictment, but was released on this day after 52 days in custody due to the court’s decision.