Official ruling by the Constitutional Court of South Korea

Detained South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol Appears at Impeachment Trial Over Martial Law Attempt

Jan 21, 2025, 06:32 AM

South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol attended the 3rd hearing session at the Constitutional Court in Seoul on Tuesday for his impeachment trial, marking the first time a sitting president has appeared in person at such a proceeding. Arriving at 1:12 p.m., Yoon, dressed in a navy suit and burgundy tie, was detained on charges related to an attempt to impose martial law in December. He denied ordering military commanders to forcibly remove lawmakers from parliament. The trial, which lasted 1 hour 40 minutes, is examining the legality of Yoon's short-lived martial law declaration on December 3, which was quickly overturned by parliament. Yoon's legal team has argued that the impeachment is a political attack, while the opposition claims it was necessary to safeguard constitutional order. Security was heightened around the court with 64 police units and 4000 officers due to protests by Yoon's supporters. After the hearing, Yoon was taken to the Armed Forces Seoul Capital District Hospital instead of returning to the detention center.