Final Hearing of Impeachment Trial for South Korean President Yoon Commences in His Absence

Synopsis

The concluding session of South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol's impeachment trial began in his absence, with significant attention on his defense of martial law. Legal experts predict a verdict on his fate within two weeks, as arguments unfold between his defense and the National Assembly.

Key Takeaways

Yoon's impeachment trial final hearing starts.
Yoon absent during the initial proceedings.
Unlimited time for final arguments from both sides.
Focus on martial law declaration and its legality.
Legal analysts expect a verdict within two weeks.

Seoul, Feb 25 (NationPress) The concluding session of the impeachment trial against South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol commenced on Tuesday without his presence, drawing significant interest regarding his final remarks aimed at justifying his brief enforcement of martial law.

Although Yoon did not attend the initial proceedings, he was anticipated to join later in the day.

The session started with the review of evidence, followed by the closing arguments from both Yoon's legal representatives and the National Assembly, which serves as the prosecution.

Both Yoon and Rep. Jung Chung-rai of the main Opposition Democratic Party, who leads the Assembly's impeachment committee, will be allotted unlimited time for their concluding statements.

The President is likely to use his address to clarify the events that prompted his unexpected declaration of martial law on December 3 and to challenge the legitimacy of the investigation conducted by the Corruption Investigation Office for High-ranking Officials (CIO) and the prosecution.

Another point of interest is whether he will express remorse to the public for the political strife triggered by his martial law announcement and subsequent impeachment.

Jung has indicated that he will utilize his closing arguments to outline the reasons for Yoon's removal, highlight discrepancies in Yoon's claims, and discuss how the nation can navigate the ongoing crisis.

The impeachment motion brought forth by the National Assembly accuses Yoon of breaching the Constitution and laws by imposing martial law without a national emergency and neglecting essential procedures, such as convening a Cabinet meeting and informing Parliament.

Yoon contends that his martial law declaration was a governance measure intended to caution the Opposition party regarding its ongoing impeachments of government officials and efforts to reduce the government budget, as reported by Yonhap news agency.

Legal analysts predict that the court will announce its decision on whether to oust Yoon from office or restore him within two weeks following Tuesday's hearing, referencing the cases of former Presidents Roh Moo-hyun and Park Geun-hye.