Seoul, Feb 25:
South Korea’s embattled President Yoon Suk Yeol is set to deliver his final statement on Tuesday in a high-stakes Constitutional Court trial that will determine whether he remains in office or is permanently removed. The court, comprising eight justices, will conclude public hearings on Yoon’s impeachment, marking a pivotal moment in South Korea’s political history.
Yoon, who has served less than three years of his five-year term, faces impeachment over his controversial declaration of martial law on December 3, a move parliament deemed unconstitutional. The impeachment motion, passed by lawmakers, accuses him of abusing executive power to suppress the opposition Democratic Party, which holds a legislative majority.
The president, however, insists that his actions were legal, arguing that his intention was never to impose full military rule but rather to signal a warning against the opposition’s alleged misuse of parliamentary authority. He rescinded the martial law decree just six hours after its announcement, but the damage was already done, plunging the nation into a constitutional crisis.
Adding to his troubles, Yoon is currently being held at the Seoul Detention Centre on separate criminal charges of leading an insurrection. He is the first sitting South Korean president to face a criminal trial while in office, further intensifying political turmoil.
Tuesday’s hearing, scheduled to begin at 2 p.m. (0500 GMT), will see both Yoon and Jung Chung-rae, the chairman of parliament’s judiciary committee, present their final arguments. If the court upholds the impeachment, Yoon will be permanently removed, triggering a snap presidential election within 60 days.
Critics argue that Yoon’s rationale for martial law lacks constitutional justification and raises concerns about his ability to handle future crises. Parliament’s legal representatives warned that reinstating him could set a dangerous precedent, as he might attempt similar actions again.
The court has up to six months from December 14 to issue a ruling, though historical precedent suggests a quicker decision. In 2017, the Constitutional Court removed former President Park Geun-hye just 11 days after the final arguments in her impeachment trial.
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