Prosecutor General Shim Woo-jung answers reporters' questions on his way to the Supreme Prosecutors Office in Seoul, March 10. Yonhap

Prosecutor General Shim Woo-jung said Monday his decision not to appeal a court ruling to release impeached President Yoon Suk Yeol was based on "due process of law" and rejected the opposition's calls for his resignation.

Yoon, who was detained in January on charges of inciting an insurrection through his failed bid to impose martial law on Dec. 3, was released from jail Saturday after the prosecution decided not to appeal the previous day's ruling that his detention was invalid.

"I followed the principles of the due process of law after gathering various opinions from the investigation team and others," Shim told reporters as he arrived for work at the Supreme Prosecutors Office in southern Seoul.

"I don't think this provides the grounds for (my) resignation or impeachment," he said, adding he would "respond accordingly" should the National Assembly take steps to impeach him.

Shim said he respected the court's decision given its authority to decide on matters of a suspect's physical detention following their indictment.

He also pointed to the Constitutional Court's former ruling that deemed it unconstitutional to immediately appeal a suspension of the execution of an arrest warrant.

Still, Shim said he did not agree with the Seoul Central District Court's calculation of Yoon's 10-day initial detention period in hours, not days, and has directed the investigation team to dispute the point during the actual trial. (Yonhap)