Seoul: A hearing on the legality of former President Yoon Suk Yeol's arrest will be held later this week, as Yoon fights to regain his freedom a week after being placed in custody over his failed attempt to impose martial law. The hearing has been scheduled for 10:15 a.m. Friday, the Seoul Central District Court announced, shortly after Yoon's lawyers confirmed that he had filed for a review of the legality of his arrest.

According to Yonhap News Agency, the petition was filed to argue that the arrest was "illegal" and "unjust," both substantively and procedurally, as stated by Yoon's legal team in a press release. Under the law, the court must question the defendant and examine evidence within 48 hours of the request being filed to determine whether the arrest was legal and should remain in place.

Depending on the outcome of the hearing, Yoon could be released from the Seoul Detention Center, where he has been held since last Thursday following the issuance of a warrant for his arrest on five charges related to his martial law bid. Sources indicate that Yoon is considering attending the upcoming hearing in person to argue against his detention, as he plans to assert that there is neither a risk of evidence destruction nor flight.

Yoon previously took similar legal steps in January after his first arrest. At that time, his detention was deemed legal, but a subsequent request to cancel his arrest was accepted by the court, resulting in his release in March.