Following his contentious martial law bid last month, South Korea’s Constitutional Court held its first hearing to decide whether suspended President Yoon Suk Yeol should be dismissed from office. The continuing Yoon Suk Yeol impeachment case, which has drawn close political and legal attention, is at a turning point with this hearing. However, Yoon’s absence caused the proceedings to end suddenly in just four minutes.
Because of an outstanding arrest order for him on separate rebellion allegations, Yoon’s legal team had declared that he would not attend the session for his safety. The court stated that because of this absence, the hearing could not occur until a new date was set.
If the court upholds the impeachment, what will happen?
Only until at least six of the eight justices on the Constitutional Court’s panel decide to uphold the impeachment will the suspended president, who was removed from office by a vote in parliament last month, be formally removed from office.
“According to South Korean law, the court must set a new date for a hearing before they can proceed without his participation,” the official said. Despite the increasing political and legal ambiguity surrounding Yoon Suk Yeol’s impeachment, the next hearing is set for Thursday.
Why Are the Attorneys for Yoon Contesting the Court's Schedule?
The court’s “unilateral decision” over the trial dates has been contested by Yoon’s defence lawyers, who have stated that they plan to attend the trial later. They formally asked for one of the eight justices to recuse themselves, but the court denied their request.
Notwithstanding their efforts, Yoon has not spoken out in public since the December 14 impeachment vote, and his attorneys have served as his major spokesperson.
Is Yoon Going to Be Arrested Again Soon?
As investigators get ready to make a second effort to arrest Yoon on insurgency-related allegations, he is facing other legal challenges in addition to the impeachment process. Yoon’s security team and law police engaged in a heated, multi-hour standoff during the first attempt to arrest the president on January 3.
According to local media, Yoon is the first sitting president of South Korea to be arrested, and a second effort to place him under arrest may occur this week.
What Political Unrest Has Yoon's Proclamation of Martial Law Caused?
In South Korea, Yoon’s decision to impose martial law on December 3 has resulted in significant political turmoil. Yoon claimed that he was defending the country from “anti-state” groups to defend his conduct. But it soon became evident that his worsening political problems were the driving force for the imposition of martial law.
“What followed was an unprecedented few weeks,” one political analyst told reporters. “The opposition-dominated parliament voted overwhelmingly to impeach Yoon, leading to Prime Minister Han Duck-soo succeeding him as acting president.”
What Effects Has the Crisis Had on the Economy of South Korea?
Serious economic consequences have also resulted from the political turmoil. International credit rating agencies have cautioned that the continued uncertainty may cause business and consumer mood in the nation to worsen, and the South Korean won has depreciated.
What Is the Difference Between Yoon's Impeachment and Other South Korean Cases?
Although there has been a history of presidential impeachments in South Korea, Yoon’s effort to impose martial law and the unusual circumstances surrounding his impeachment make the current situation unique.
After a two-month review of the case, former President Roh Moo-hyun was reinstated in 2004 after being impeached. On the other hand, the impeachment of former President Park Geun-hye in 2017 was upheld, even though her absence caused the first hearing to conclude quickly after just nine minutes.
“While each impeachment procedure is distinct, there are undoubtedly parallels to earlier instances. As in the situations of Roh and Park, the president’s absence at such a pivotal hearing raises concerns,” a South Korean political analyst said.
South Korea is dealing with its biggest leadership crisis in decades, and as the drama plays out, President Yoon’s legal and political destiny is still up in the air. Public interest in the outcome of the court hearings surrounding Yoon Suk Yeol’s impeachment is increasing, and the case is still making headlines.
