Impeached South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol’s criminal trial began today, after being removed from office due to his December martial law declaration.
Yoon has been charged with leading an insurrection. He was impeached shortly after instating martial law, and was removed by the country’s Constitutional Court on 4 April.
“Martial law is not a coup d’etat,” Yoon said in this morning's hearing. “This was a peaceful ‘message martial law’ to the nation.”
The hearing began at the Seoul Central District Court at 10 am local time. Photos and video will not be permitted during the hearing today, the court said, and Yoon entered through an underground parking area to avoid public view.
“The decision to allow Yoon, who is accused as the ringleader of an insurrection, to use the underground parking lot for court entry lacks justification and legitimacy,” said opposition Democratic Party spokesperson Lee Geon-tae.
If Yoon is convicted, he may face a life sentence or the death penalty. An initial verdict is expected around August.
The first preliminary hearing in Yoon’s criminal trial took place in February, after being detained in January. He was released from detention in March.
Yoon declared martial law in December after an investigation was opened into his wife Kim Keon-hee and four allied officials, with the country’s National Assembly overturning the declaration hours later. The Constitutional Court unanimously upheld the impeachment this month, saying Yoon had violated his duty as president and the rights of the legislature.
Following his removal from office, Yoon left the presidential residence on Friday. Data from his administration is now being moved to South Korea’s Presidential Archives.
Yoon will be the fifth former South Korean president to stand criminal trial. Chun Doo-hwan, president from 1980 to 1988, is the only leader of South Korea to be convicted on insurrection charges. While Chun was sentenced to life imprisonment, he was pardoned in 1997.
South Korea’s next presidential election is scheduled for 3 June, as a snap election is required within 60 days once the presidency is vacant. Former Democratic Party leader and National Assembly member Lee Jae-myung is currently ahead in the polls, per a Gallup Korea survey last week.
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