South Korea’s Constitutional Court began the impeachment trial of President Yoon Suk Yeol on Tuesday, following his controversial attempt to impose martial law in December 2023. The president’s legal team cited safety concerns, causing the first hearing to be quickly adjourned after he failed to appear. The trial will focus on whether his declaration of martial law was unconstitutional or illegal, a decision that could lead to his permanent removal from office.
Yoon’s martial law bid, which saw soldiers storming parliament to prevent lawmakers from voting on his suspension of civilian rule, has led to a political crisis in South Korea. The attempt, which lasted only six hours, marked the first time in over four decades that South Korea faced the possibility of military rule. Authorities impeached Yoon soon after the failed attempt and suspended him from duty, but he has since remained largely out of sight, resisting summonses from investigators probing him for insurrection.
Legal Process and Implications of the Trial
The court will hold five hearings for the impeachment trial. It adjourned the first one shortly after it began at 2:00 pm (0500 GMT) due to Yoon’s absence. Despite this setback, the court will continue the process, with hearings scheduled for Thursday, January 21, January 23, and February 4. The court’s eight judges will ultimately decide whether Yoon’s martial law declaration was unconstitutional or illegal, with six votes required to remove him from office.
The National Assembly’s legal team has stressed that there are “overwhelming reasons” for Yoon’s immediate dismissal. However, Yoon’s legal team has argued that the court needs to take the full 180 days allotted for the trial to fully investigate the circumstances surrounding the martial law declaration.
Second Attempt to Arrest Yoon
In a parallel criminal investigation, the Corruption Investigation Office (CIO) and police are preparing for a second attempt to arrest President Yoon on charges of insurrection. The first attempt to arrest him failed when his presidential guards blocked access to investigators, prompting protests outside his residence. This time, a team of 1,000 investigators is set to carry out the warrant.
If the arrest is successful, Yoon will become the first sitting South Korean president to be arrested. Experts have stated that the outcome of this arrest attempt is crucial, as failure could lead to significant political unrest and jeopardize the future of the CIO.
Political Instability Continues Amid Yoon’s Legal Troubles
Yoon’s absence from the trial and the failed arrest attempt have contributed to an ongoing political crisis in South Korea. Political instability continues to rise. Analysts warn that further unrest could be on the horizon if the situation is not resolved. Lawmakers recently impeached Yoon’s stand-in, adding to the country’s turmoil.
