Yoon’s team warns of major decision amid claims of unfair trial

Feb 14, 2025, 07:55 am

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President Yoon Suk-yeol speaks during the 8th hearing of his impeachment trial at the Constitutional Court in Seoul on Feb. 13, 2025./ Provided by the Constitutional Court

AsiaToday reporter Kim Chae-yeon

As President Yoon Suk-yeol's impeachment trial nears its conclusion, Yoon's side has criticized the Constitutional Court's hasty proceedings. "If these proceedings continue, we will have no choice but to make a significant decision," Yoon’s side said on Thursday. While specifics were not provided, the statement is interpreted as a hint at the "total resignation of the defense team."

"Prime Minister Han Duck-soo, as the second-in-command of the administration, is well aware of the circumstances leading to the martial law declaration and the situation during the cabinet meeting at that time," attorney Yoon Gap-geun representing President Yoon stated during the 8th hearing of the impeachment trial held at the Constitutional Court. "However, the Constitutional Court dismissed the witness request citing lack of relevance to the impeachment trial without specific explanation," he added.

Regarding the court's dismissal of the request to verify the voter rolls, which President Yoon's side claims as the main cause of the alleged fraudulent election, Attorney Yoon said, "Despite verifying the consistency of voter lists and voter numbers being the most effective method to examine the election fraud allegations, it was dismissed as groundless."

"The impeachment trial is a significant case that determines whether the president will be removed from office and is a single-trial system. It is an important matter that overturns the result of the people's sovereignty," he said. "What is the most important is a speedy yet fair trial that combines accuracy and political neutrality. The public must trust the decision for the Constitutional Court to have meaning," he added.

Moreover, Attorney Yoon pointed out that the current Constitutional Court proceedings are illegal and unfair as they violate explicit provisions of the Constitutional Court Act. The attorney hinted at the possibility of a total resignation of the defense team like what was mentioned during the 2017 impeachment trial of former President Park Geun-hye, saying, "If the current proceedings continue, the defense team will have no choice but to make a significant decision."

President Yoon's side has applied to summon Prime Minister Han and former National Intelligence Service First Deputy Director Hong Jang-won as witnesses again. The decision on whether to accept the witness requests will be made after the judges' meeting on Friday. The Constitutional Court has decided to hold an additional 9th hearing on Tuesday, drawing attention to the witness adoption.

If the Tuesday hearing is the last one, the trial is expected to conclude after two more sessions, including direct questioning of President Yoon and his final statement, possibly by the end of the month. After the trial concludes, the Constitutional Court will deliberate and announce the decision on President Yoon's removal from office in early next month. If the impeachment is upheld, the early presidential election is expected to be held at the end of April or early May

#Yoon Suk-yeol #constitutional court