State crisis in South Korea: South Korea’s suspended president explains himself in court

South Korea’s suspended President Yoon Suk Yeol has defended himself in his impeachment trial before the country’s Constitutional Court. In his first appearance in the proceedings, he rejected criticism of his controversial martial law decision. At the beginning of December, the 64-year-old briefly declared martial law, plunging his country into a deep state crisis.

Now Yoon has denied the central allegation that he ordered the military to drag lawmakers out of parliament on the night of December 3 to prevent a vote against his martial law decree. In doing so, Yoon contradicts the statements of several military commanders that the suspended president ordered the arrest of individual parliamentarians.

During the hearing, Yoon argued that he never intended to specifically implement the martial law decree and dissolve the National Assembly. The decree was simply aimed at “prohibiting illegal actions by the National Assembly,” South Korea’s official Yonhap news agency quoted one of Yoon’s lawyers as saying. In the past, Yoon Suk Yeol has repeatedly claimed that imposing martial law would protect the nation from supposedly “anti-state forces” in the opposition.

“From my childhood to now, I have lived with a strong belief in liberal democracy, especially during my time in public service,” said Yoon at the start of the court hearing, where the former prosecutor appeared in a dark suit and red tie. South Korean media had previously speculated whether Yoon, who has been in custody for almost a week, would have to wear his prison uniform.

Already in December, MPs in the South Korean National Assembly voted for Yoon’s removal from office. The Constitutional Court in Seoul is currently reviewing the decision. A verdict is expected in the next few weeks. If the judges confirm Yoon Suk Yeol’s removal from office, a new election would have to be held within 60 days.

Yoon is said to have been taken to a military hospital

A large police force cordoned off the area around the Constitutional Court. Thousands of Yoon Suk Yeol’s supporters gathered to loudly cheer on their president.

It was the first time in South Korean history that a president appeared in person at an impeachment trial. In previous impeachment proceedings, former presidents Park Geun Hye and Roh Moo Hyeon were always represented by lawyers.

After the hearing, Yoon Suk Yeol was not taken back to his prison cell as expected. Instead, Yoon was said to have been driven to a military hospital, South Korea’s official news agency Yonhap reported, citing informed sources. The exact reasons are not yet known.

In custody since last week

On Wednesday, Yoon Suk Yeol was arrested by investigators from the Senior Officials Corruption Investigation Office (CIO) at his residence in Seoul. The suspended president had barricaded himself there for several weeks and resisted arrest with the help of his presidential security service. Since then, Yoon has been in a detention center south of Seoul, where he was most recently transferred to a solitary cell.

The CIO investigators are currently investigating whether Yoon was guilty of trying to incite a riot by briefly imposing martial law. If found guilty, the suspended president could face a long prison sentence.