South Korea’s Constitutional Court has begun proceedings in the impeachment trial of President Yoon Suk Yeol, who was suspended after declaring martial law, triggering significant political unrest.
Last Saturday, lawmakers voted to impeach Yoon following widespread protests demanding his resignation.
The court now has up to six months to decide whether to uphold Yoon’s impeachment, which would permanently remove him from office, or to reinstate him.
In the meantime, Prime Minister Han Duck-soo is acting president.
The ruling People Power Party (PPP) has been struggling with internal turmoil since the impeachment vote, with its leader, Han Dong-hoon, stepping down on Monday.
“I sincerely apologise to all the people who are suffering from this emergency situation,” Han stated in a televised address.
Public hearings for the trial could stretch on for months, but the court faces pressure to deliver a verdict quickly to resolve the nation’s political uncertainty.
Protesters, who have vowed to maintain their demonstrations, are calling for Yoon’s removal.
The court has set a preliminary hearing date for December 27, despite operating with only six of its nine justices after three recently retired.
Addressing concerns about its capacity, the court confirmed it could proceed with the reduced bench. If Yoon’s impeachment is upheld, South Korea would hold fresh presidential elections within 60 days.
It remains uncertain whether Yoon will testify during the hearings. He ignored a summons from prosecutors on Sunday and faces another order to appear this week.
If he continues to evade questioning, police may move to arrest him. Yoon, however, remains defiant, insisting his decision to impose martial law was justified. Following his impeachment, he reiterated his resolve to “fight until the end.”
Han Dong-hoon’s resignation as PPP leader marks the latest fallout from the impeachment. In his statement, Han acknowledged, “It was impossible to fulfill my duties as party chief after the Supreme Council was destroyed.”
All five members of the council resigned following the impeachment vote, effectively dissolving the party’s leadership.
Han, who had initially tried to manage an orderly transition for Yoon, later shifted his stance and supported impeachment, describing it as the only path forward.
“While it pains me to think of my heartbroken supporters, I don’t regret it,” he said, referencing his controversial decision.
Reports indicate that 12 PPP lawmakers voted in favor of impeachment, allowing the motion to pass, while the majority of PPP legislators opposed it.
The party is now grappling with divisions between pro-Yoon factions and other members.
The impeachment trial, the third of its kind in South Korea’s history, comes amid intense public scrutiny. In previous cases, the court overturned one impeachment and upheld another.
The outcome of Yoon’s trial is expected to have lasting implications for the country’s political landscape.
Source-BBC
