South Korean President Yoon Suk-yeol is facing impeachment and criminal charges, with his lawyer stating in a Seoul court that Yoon Suk-yeol "had no intention of paralyzing the nation." This marks the first time in South Korean history that a sitting president has faced criminal prosecution, as Yoon Suk-yeol simultaneously confronts charges of insurrection and efforts to remove him from office.
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02-24, 2025Both cases—one a criminal indictment and the other an impeachment—are related to a brief martial law decree he implemented last December. The martial law was lifted approximately six hours after Yoon Suk-yeol announced it, during which hundreds of armed soldiers were deployed to the National Assembly and the National Election Commission offices.
On Tuesday, Yoon Suk-yeol appeared in court twice on the same day, first for a preliminary hearing at the Seoul Central District Court in the morning and then at the Constitutional Court in the afternoon. The preliminary criminal case hearing involved witness discussions, proposed evidence, and other preparations for trial. Prosecutors have labeled the suspended president as the "head of the insurrection."
Yoon Suk-yeol's lawyer, Kim Hong-il, stated that "the declaration of martial law was not intended to paralyze the nation" but rather to "alert the public to the national crisis caused by the legislative dictatorship of the dominant opposition party, which has weakened the government." The court will also consider a request from Yoon Suk-yeol's lawyer to cancel his detention at the Seoul Detention Center, arguing that the matter was investigated in an illegal manner and that there is no risk of Yoon Suk-yeol attempting to destroy evidence.
If convicted of insurrection, he could face life imprisonment or the death penalty, although South Korea has not carried out an execution in decades. The criminal case is scheduled to resume in March. Meanwhile, the impeachment trial has entered its tenth day and is expected to enter its final phase next week. Once the hearings conclude, the judges will review the decision to impeach Yoon Suk-yeol behind closed doors—an election would need to be held within 60 days if he is permanently removed from office.
Witnesses who testified on Thursday included Prime Minister Han Duck-soo, who also faces impeachment and awaits the court's ruling on his fate. Han Duck-soo told the court on Thursday that he "expressed opposition" to Yoon Suk-yeol's decision to suspend civil rule on the evening of December 3rd. Han Duck-soo stated that he and most of his cabinet members "believed that such a declaration would put South Korea in a serious predicament," and he recalled that they were "concerned and tried to dissuade it."
Yoon Suk-yeol's impeachment trial primarily focuses on whether his declaration of martial law violated the constitution, as martial law is reserved for national emergencies or times of war.
