SEOUL, South Korea — In a dramatic turn of events, South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol was transported in a prison vehicle to appear before two distinct courts on Thursday. He faced serious rebellion charges in one court while simultaneously contesting a move to remove him from office in the other.
Both legal battles stem from his controversial declaration of martial law in December, which has since ignited intense political discord. As the motorcade arrived at the Seoul Central District Court, heightened security measures were evident as preparations for a preliminary hearing unfolded, which involved discussions about potential witnesses and evidence.
The court has scheduled an additional preliminary hearing for March and is reviewing a request from Yoon’s legal team to nullify his arrest order and secure his release from custody. However, such petitions often meet with limited success. While the court did not provide a timeline for its decision on Yoon’s request, it has asked both the prosecution and defense to submit further written statements within a 10-day period.
Yoon then made his way across Seoul to the Constitutional Court, which is expected to reach a verdict on his impeachment following the National Assembly’s vote. During the Thursday hearing, the court announced that final arguments would commence on February 25, indicating a possible decision in March.
Yoon briefly stepped out of the courtroom when Prime Minister Han Duck-soo took the stand as a witness. Yoon’s attorney informed the justices that his client feared their joint appearance in court could tarnish the country’s reputation. Han corroborated Yoon’s claims that the liberal opposition, currently holding a legislative majority, had obstructed governmental operations by pursuing impeachment actions against high-ranking officials and undermining the budget.
Nonetheless, Han reiterated prior statements made to lawmakers and investigators, suggesting that Yoon may have breached constitutional protocols by declaring martial law without conducting a formal Cabinet meeting ahead of time. Han admitted he was unaware of any Cabinet members who supported Yoon’s actions.
Upon the justices calling forth another witness, Hong Jang-won, the former first deputy director of South Korea’s intelligence agency, Yoon returned to the courtroom. Hong maintained previous assertions that Yoon directed him to facilitate the detention of prominent politicians, including National Assembly Speaker Woo Won Shik and opposition leader Lee Jae-myung. An irritated Yoon denied the allegations, accusing Hong of deceit and fabricating evidence.
Following the court proceedings, Yoon was returned to a detention facility near Seoul. He was indicted on January 26 for rebellion, which carries severe penalties, including life imprisonment or even the death penalty. While South Korean presidents enjoy immunity for most criminal charges, rebellion and treason are significant exceptions.
The indictment claims his martial law declaration was an unlawful effort to dissolve the National Assembly and arrest key political figures and election officials. Yoon maintains that the martial law was intended as a temporary caution for the liberal opposition, asserting that he had always intended to abide by the legislative body’s decision should they choose to rescind the measure.
Since his impeachment on December 14, Yoon’s presidential authority has been suspended, compelling him to navigate challenging political waters at the Constitutional Court. The martial law, which was repealed approximately six hours after its announcement, has triggered significant political unrest, strained high-profile diplomatic relations, and tested the endurance of democracy in the nation. Yoon’s conservative supporters protested aggressively outside the Seoul Western District Court following his arrest authorization last month, while his legal team and ruling party have publicly questioned the integrity of the judiciary and law enforcement entities involved in the proceedings.
Yoon has continued to voice disdain for his liberal opponents, blaming them for obstructing his policies and has promoted unfounded conspiracy theories regarding election fraud to validate his authoritarian endeavors.
Furthermore, several high-ranking officials, including Yoon’s defense minister, police chief, and numerous military leaders, have been arrested and indicted on offenses such as rebellion and abuse of power in connection with the martial law declaration, during which heavily armed troops were deployed to key governmental buildings.
