Keystone-SDA
Ousted South Korean President Yoon Suk-yeol will not attend the first hearing of his impeachment trial which begins Tuesday before the constitutional court, one of his lawyers said on Sunday. He cited “security” concerns.
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January 12, 2025 – 05:19
(Keystone-ATS) “The president intends to run […] once the security issues are resolved,” the lawyer explained in a statement. Yoon Suk-yeol was impeached by Parliament for attempting to impose martial law in early December, in a power move quickly thwarted by lawmakers.
The constitutional court was seized of his case on December 14, following the adoption of a motion against him by the National Assembly. She has until mid-June to confirm or refute this decision. The court has scheduled five hearings from January 14 to February 4. The trial will proceed as scheduled even if Mr. Yoon does not attend.
-The former South Korean presidents involved, Park Geun-hye (impeached and imprisoned) and Roh Moo-hyun (re-instated), never came to their trials.
Arrest warrant
Yoon Suk-yeol, a 64-year-old former prosecutor, is the subject of an arrest warrant and several investigations, including one for “rebellion”, a crime punishable by death. For the moment, he is escaping the investigators who are trying to take him for questioning, hiding in his home and protected by his guard. He had previously assured that he would appear at his trial.
South Korea has been sinking into political chaos since the failed attempt to establish martial law on the night of December 3-4.
A first interim president intended to replace Mr. Yoon, Han Duck-soo, was also dismissed by deputies, who accused him of obstructing the proceedings against Mr. Yoon. The country is currently presided over by his second replacement, Finance Minister Choi Sang-mok.
Rival protests take place every day in Seoul, including in front of Yoon Suk-yeol’s residence in the city center, despite the freezing cold.
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