Final Hearing of Yoon's Impeachment Trial Scheduled for February 25
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Synopsis
On February 25, South Korea's constitutional court will conduct the final hearing of President Yoon Suk-yeol's impeachment trial, where key arguments will be presented by both Yoon's legal team and the National Assembly.
Key Takeaways
- Final hearing of Yoon's impeachment trial on February 25.
- Yoon's legal team and National Assembly to present arguments.
- Yoon may face severe penalties if convicted of insurrection.
- Emergency martial law declaration by Yoon was revoked.
- Impeachment motion passed by National Assembly on December 14.
Seoul, Feb 20 (NationPress) South Korea's constitutional court is set to conduct the 11th and concluding hearing of President Yoon Suk-yeol's impeachment trial on February 25.
The court's acting chief justice announced during the 10th hearing on Thursday that the next session will take place at 2:00 pm local time on February 25, where justices will consider detailed arguments from both Yoon's legal team and the National Assembly, alongside Yoon's final statement.
During the 10th hearing, Yoon entered the courtroom around 3:00 pm local time (0600 GMT) but exited shortly after, approximately five minutes later.
Yoon's attorney expressed that the impeached president felt it was inappropriate to observe the testimony of the impeached Prime Minister Han Duck-soo in court, as reported by Xinhua news agency.
In the hearing, Han stated that all cabinet members were concerned and attempted to persuade Yoon against declaring martial law, which contradicted earlier claims by the former defense minister that some members were in favor of it.
Han described a cabinet meeting, held hastily prior to Yoon's martial law declaration, as not typical.
Yoon returned to the court during the testimonies of Hong Jang-won, former first Deputy Director of the National Intelligence Service, and Cho Ji-ho, Commissioner General of the National Police Agency.
Before attending the constitutional court, Yoon participated in the initial preparatory hearing of his criminal trial concerning allegations of leading an insurrection, marking him as the first sitting president to face such a trial.
If found guilty of being the insurrection's ringleader, Yoon could potentially face the death penalty or life imprisonment.
He was detained in the presidential office on January 15 and was indicted while in custody on January 26 as a suspected ringleader of insurrection.
Yoon declared an emergency martial law on the night of December 3 last year; however, it was revoked by the opposition-led National Assembly just hours later.
The motion to impeach Yoon passed through the National Assembly on December 14 last year and was subsequently sent to the constitutional court for deliberation, a process that could last up to 180 days, during which his presidency is suspended.
