Yoon Suk Yeol, the impeached President of South Korea, attended a court session in Seoul for the initial hearing of his criminal trial concerning insurrection charges, during which his attorneys requested his release from custody.
As the first sitting leader in the country to face a criminal trial, the hearings commence regarding his attempt to enforce martial law.
Local news broadcasts displayed footage of justice ministry vehicles departing from the Seoul Detention Centre, where Mr. Yoon is incarcerated, before arriving at the courthouse, which was secured by lines of police buses.
During the proceedings, Mr. Yoon’s legal team sought to revoke his detention, arguing that the insurrection investigation was conducted unlawfully and asserting that there was no danger of him tampering with evidence.
His actions triggered significant political turmoil in Asia’s fourth-largest economy.
He has been in custody since his arrest last month on insurrection charges, which could potentially lead to a life sentence or the death penalty.
The allegations are unprecedented for a sitting South Korean president, and if found guilty, he could face lengthy imprisonment for issuing his martial law decree, aimed at curbing political and parliamentary activities and regulating the media.
This initiative sparked considerable political instability in South Korea, a key ally of the U.S., resulting in the impeachment and suspension of the prime minister, alongside indictments of several senior military officials for their involvement in the purported insurrection.
Prosecutors urged for expedited proceedings due to the case’s “seriousness,” while Mr. Yoon’s legal representatives insisted they required additional time to examine the evidence.
According to one of his lawyers, Mr. Yoon had “no intention to paralyse the country,” arguing that his declaration of martial law was meant to alert the public to the “legislative dictatorship of the powerful opposition party.”
The judge announced that the next hearing for the criminal case is set for 24 March.
Prime Minister Han Duck-soo is expected to testify during Mr. Yoon’s impeachment trial.
Additionally, Mr. Yoon is undergoing a separate impeachment trial by the Constitutional Court, which has now entered its concluding stage.
The tenth hearing in that matter is slated for 3 PM local time, occurring just hours after he appears at his criminal trial.
The Constitutional Court will hear testimony from witnesses, including Prime Minister Han Duck-soo, although it remains uncertain if Mr. Yoon will attend the impeachment trial hearing as well.
Cho Ji-ho, chief of South Korea’s National Police Agency and also facing insurrection charges related to the martial law oversight, has been summoned to testify as well.
The Constitutional Court is evaluating the parliament’s impeachment decision regarding Mr. Yoon from 14 December, which will determine whether he is permanently removed from office or reinstated.
During the hearings, Mr. Yoon and his legal team have contended that he never intended to fully enact martial law but instead aimed to use the measures as a cautionary signal to address a political deadlock.
This process may extend up to two weeks or more.
Formerly impeached presidents Park Geun-hye and Roh Moo-hyun faced waits of 11 and 14 days, respectively, to discover the outcomes of their proceedings.
If Mr. Yoon is removed from office, a new presidential election must take place within 60 days.
