Supreme Prosecutors Office in southern Seoul / Yonhap

The prosecution is experiencing internal conflict over guidelines from its leadership instructing prosecutors not to appeal a court order to release suspended President Yoon Suk Yeol from custody, according to judicial sources.

The sources said Saturday that the leadership of the Supreme Prosecutors Office convened a meeting following the court ruling the previous day and unanimously agreed that the investigative team handling Yoon's case should comply with the decision and release him.

The meeting was reportedly attended by six senior prosecution officials, including Prosecutor General Shim Woo-jung. The Supreme Prosecutors Office oversees lower prosecution offices, including the Seoul Central District Prosecutors Office, which is responsible for Yoon's indictment.

However, when the guidelines were conveyed to the team at the Seoul prosecution office, team members objected, arguing that prosecutors should appeal the case to a higher court, according to the sources.

The Supreme Prosecutors Office and the special investigative team continue to deliberate on the matter and have yet to reach a final decision as of press time.

The conflict comes after the Seoul Central District Court ruled in favor of Yoon's request to overturn his arrest with detention, granting his release.

The president has been held at a detention center in Uiwang, just south of Seoul, since Jan. 15 while awaiting trial on charges of inciting an insurrection through his Dec. 3 declaration of martial law.

By law, prosecutors have seven days to appeal the ruling. If they do not, Yoon will be released. (Yonhap)