In a dramatic turn of events, the Seoul Central District Court has denied a second request to extend the detention of South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol. Arrested last week on insurrection charges, Yoon is the first sitting president in South Korean history to be detained amid a criminal investigation. This development adds another layer of complexity to the country's ongoing political crisis.
The court's decision on Saturday came as a blow to prosecutors who had intended to keep the president in custody until February 6 for further questioning. A judge noted that it was "difficult to find sufficient grounds" to approve an extension of Yoon's detention. This ruling forces prosecutors to expedite their efforts to indict him if they wish to keep him incarcerated.
"With the court's rejection of the extension, prosecutors must now work quickly to formally indict Yoon to keep him behind bars," stated Yoo Jung-hoon, an attorney and political commentator.
Yoon's legal troubles go beyond criminal charges, as he also faces a separate impeachment hearing in the Constitutional Court. Should the court uphold his impeachment, Yoon would be officially removed from office, triggering a national election within 60 days. His impeachment remains pending following a decisive vote against his martial law decree by lawmakers on December 3. The decree lasted only six hours before its rejection.
Yoon has consistently refused to cooperate with the criminal probe, with his legal defense arguing that investigators lack legal authority. The unfolding situation has plunged South Korea into its most severe political crisis in decades, leaving the nation in a state of uncertainty and political unrest.
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