On Tuesday, South Korea’s constitutional court held the seventh hearing in the impeachment trial of President Yoon Suk-yeol. The president, who has been under arrest since January, appeared in court for the fifth time.
President Yoon is facing impeachment over his declaration of emergency martial law last December. He defended his actions, stating that he exercised his presidential powers as guaranteed under the constitution. “I acted to ensure the safety and stability of the nation,” Yoon asserted during the hearing.
However, the opposition argues that there was no national emergency justifying such drastic measures. They accuse Yoon of unconstitutionally imposing martial law without legitimate cause. During the martial law, military helicopters landed at the National Assembly, and hundreds of armed special forces entered the parliamentary building, stirring public concern.
Testimonies from military officials have added to the controversy. Lieutenant General Kwak Jong-keun, former chief of the Army Special Warfare Command, stated that he received no orders from Yoon or the defense minister to withdraw troops from the National Assembly. This contradicts Yoon’s claim that he ordered a withdrawal.
Furthermore, former Interior Minister Lee Sang-min testified that he never received instructions from Yoon to cut off power and water to certain media outlets and a local pollster, conflicting with the prosecution’s indictment.
The final hearing is scheduled for Thursday. The constitutional court has up to 180 days to deliberate on the impeachment motion passed by the National Assembly. During this period, Yoon’s presidential powers remain suspended.
President Yoon’s arrest marks the first time a sitting South Korean president has been detained and put on trial while in office. His impeachment trial is being closely watched both domestically and internationally, raising critical questions about presidential authority and constitutional limits.
