South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol attended a Constitutional Court hearing for his impeachment trial, where he denied allegations of ordering military commanders to take action against lawmakers during his attempt to impose martial law. Yoon, a former career prosecutor, emphasized his commitment to democracy and pledged to cooperate with the court.
Yoon's defense team argued that his martial law declaration was a response to alleged abuses by the opposition Democratic Party, which they claimed had paralyzed the government and threatened the country's democratic order. They stated that the decree was never intended to be executed and was meant to highlight the opposition's actions.
The impeachment motion against Yoon accused him of violating his constitutional duty by imposing martial law without valid grounds. Testimony from military commanders and video evidence of troops entering parliament were presented during the trial. Yoon's legal team denied allegations of his involvement in an insurrection and criticized claims of election fraud as a justification for martial law.
The Constitutional Court has up to 180 days to decide whether to permanently remove Yoon from office or reinstate him. Yoon, who has been detained since last week, attended the hearing in a correctional service vehicle and was allowed to change out of his prison uniform. Following the hearing, he received medical attention with authorization from the detention center.
Yoon's decision to attend the impeachment hearing contrasts with his resistance to criminal proceedings, where he has refused to cooperate with investigators. Security was heightened at the Constitutional Court due to concerns after a group of Yoon supporters caused disturbances at a district court.
