State crisis: South Korea’s constitutional court begins trial against Yoon

Amid the worsening state crisis in South Korea, the Constitutional Court has begun the impeachment proceedings against suspended President Yoon Suk Yeol. During the first hearing scheduled for today, both Yoon Suk Yeol’s and the National Assembly’s legal representatives will be able to present their respective arguments, call witnesses and present evidence.

Over the next few weeks and possibly months, the Constitutional Court will then examine in a final trial whether the impeachment of Yoon previously decided by the South Korean National Assembly was unconstitutional or compliant.

If the judges confirm the impeachment, new elections would have to be scheduled within 60 days at the latest. However, if the Constitutional Court overturns the impeachment, Yoon Suk Yeol would return to the presidency. At least six judges must confirm the impeachment. Since only six of nine judge positions on the Constitutional Court are currently occupied, a veto vote would be enough to declare the impeachment invalid.

Yoon imposed martial law completely unexpectedly at the beginning of December and lifted it again hours later after massive resistance. The opposition then submitted a motion for impeachment in the National Assembly, which, after a failed first attempt, finally achieved the required two-thirds majority among MPs on December 14th.

Interim President Han Duck Soo is also threatened with impeachment

Since then, Prime Minister Han Duck Soo has taken over the reins of state as interim president. But he is also threatened with impeachment. This will be voted on in Parliament this Friday after the opposition submitted a corresponding motion. Han, who is refusing to fill the three currently vacant constitutional court judge positions, is accused by opposition parties of effectively complicating the impeachment trial of Yoon Suk Yeol.

Yoon recently defended his controversial decision by saying he had declared martial law to protect the nation. His political opponents are “anti-state forces” that paralyze government work and disrupt the country’s constitutional order.