South Korean prosecutors have vowed to continue pursuing President Yoon Suk-yeol’s conviction for insurrection, despite a court ruling that ordered his release from prison. On Monday, Prosecutor General Shim Woo-jung acknowledged the court’s decision but disagreed with its reasoning that the indictment was filed past the legal deadline, making Yoon’s detention unlawful.

“I have instructed the prosecution to present arguments on all legal disputes in court, and we will do everything possible to move forward with the case,” Shim told reporters when asked if the ruling would lead to the case being dropped. Yoon has been on trial since February 20 over allegations that he attempted an insurrection by declaring martial law on December 3. However, the decree lasted only about six hours before he lifted it.

His legal team had challenged his detention, arguing that Friday’s ruling proved the case was politically motivated and lacked legal merit. Following the decision, Yoon was released from a detention center on Saturday, nearly two months after his arrest. Although freed from custody, Yoon remains suspended from office due to his impeachment by parliament. The Constitutional Court is expected to decide soon whether to overturn the impeachment and reinstate him or remove him from office permanently. If he is ousted, South Korea will hold a new presidential election within 60 days.

Yoon has defended his actions, stating that the martial law declaration was necessary to combat “anti-state” forces. However, parliament rejected the decree within hours. The court’s ruling to cancel Yoon’s arrest warrant, rather than allowing an automatic extension of his detention during the trial, has sparked mixed reactions across the country. Prosecutors chose not to appeal the decision, citing past Constitutional Court rulings that rejected similar appeals. Upon his release, Yoon was greeted by enthusiastic supporters as he returned to his official residence, where he was initially arrested on January 15. His arrest had made him the first sitting president in South Korean history to be detained and indicted.

Disclaimer: This image is taken from Reuters.