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South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol’s impeachment trial has reached its final stage, with the concluding hearing taking place on Tuesday.

 

The session began in Yoon’s absence, drawing significant public attention to his final arguments in defence of his controversial decision to impose martial law.

 

The proceedings mark a crucial moment in the political landscape of South Korea, as the nation awaits the verdict that could determine the President’s future.

 

The hearing commenced with a review of evidence and the presentation of closing arguments by legal representatives from both Yoon’s team and the National Assembly, which has acted as the prosecution in the case.

 

While Yoon was not present at the start, he was expected to appear later in the day to deliver his final defence.

 

A key moment in the trial will be Yoon’s personal statement, where he is likely to justify the events that led to his declaration of martial law on December 3.

 

He is also expected to question the legitimacy of the investigation led by the Corruption Investigation Office for High-ranking Officials (CIO) and the prosecution. 

 

Political observers are closely watching to see if the President will issue a formal apology to the public for the political crisis triggered by his actions and subsequent impeachment.

 

Jung Chung-rai, a lawmaker from the main Opposition Democratic Party and head of the National Assembly’s impeachment panel, has also prepared his final statement.

 

He has indicated that he will use his argument to outline why Yoon should be removed from office and to counter the President’s claims regarding the necessity of martial law.

 

The impeachment motion passed by the National Assembly accuses Yoon of breaching the Constitution and legal procedures by declaring martial law despite the absence of a national emergency.

 

The motion also states that he bypassed essential steps such as convening a Cabinet meeting and informing Parliament before making the decision.

 

Yoon, on the other hand, has maintained that his declaration of martial law was a strategic decision meant to caution the Opposition against repeated attempts to impeach government officials and reduce the administration’s budget.

 

According to the Yonhap news agency, he insists that his actions were part of governance and not an unlawful overreach of power.

 

Legal experts predict that the Constitutional Court will announce its verdict within two weeks of the final hearing. This timeline is based on past impeachment trials involving former Presidents Roh Moo-hyun and Park Geun-hye.

 

The ruling will determine whether Yoon is removed from office or reinstated, a decision that could have a lasting impact on South Korea’s political stability.