Camille Naredo

This handout photo taken and released on December 7, 2024 by the South Korean Presidential Office shows South Korea's President Yoon Suk Yeol bowing after the end of his address at the Presidential Office in Seoul. South Korean Presidential Office/AFP

This handout photo taken and released on December 7, 2024 by the South Korean Presidential Office shows South Korea's President Yoon Suk Yeol bowing after the end of his address at the Presidential Office in Seoul. South Korea's embattled President Yoon Suk Yeol stopped short of resigning on December 7 over his declaration of martial law, with a vote to impeach him hours away and mass street protests planned in Seoul.

Article (news)

SOUTH KOREA

Agence France-Presse

<div><span class="fr-img-caption fr-fic fr-dib" style="width:960px"><span class="fr-img-wrap"><img src="https://od2-image-api.abs-cbn.com/prod/editorImage/1736689705261121224_South Korea.jpg" style="width:960px" class="fr-fic fr-dib" alt="This handout photo taken and released on December 7, 2024 by the South Korean Presidential Office shows South Korea&#x27;s President Yoon Suk Yeol bowing after the end of his address at the Presidential Office in Seoul. South Korean Presidential Office/AFP"/><span class="fr-inner" style="text-align:left">This handout photo taken and released on December 7, 2024 by the South Korean Presidential Office shows South Korea&#x27;s President Yoon Suk Yeol bowing after the end of his address at the Presidential Office in Seoul. <em>South Korean Presidential Office/AFP</em></span></span></span></div><p>SEOUL, South Korea -- South Korea&#x27;s suspended President Yoon Suk Yeol will not attend the first hearing of his impeachment trial next week because of safety concerns, his lawyer said on Sunday.</p><p>Yoon has been holed up in the presidential residence and protected by an elite guard force since being suspended and impeached last month, following a short-lived declaration of martial law that plunged the country into political chaos.</p><p>He has refused to meet prosecutors and investigators and his presidential guard unit thwarted an attempt to arrest him following a tense, hours-long standoff earlier this month.</p><p>The Constitutional Court has scheduled five trial dates spanning January 14 to February 4, which will proceed in his absence if he does not attend.</p><div><a class="fr-green fr-strong" href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/world/2025/1/11/thousands-of-south-koreans-protest-as-president-digs-heels-in-1321">READ: Thousands of South Koreans protest as president digs heels in</a></div><p>&quot;Concerns about safety and potential incidents have arisen. Therefore, the President will not be able to attend the trial on January 14,&quot; lawyer Yoon Kab-keun said in a statement sent to AFP.</p><p>&quot;The President is willing to appear at any time once safety issues are resolved.&quot;</p><p>The court will decide whether to uphold his impeachment or restore him to office.</p><p>Separately, investigators seeking to question Yoon on insurrection charges linked to his ill-fated martial law declaration are preparing another arrest attempt.</p><p>His lawyers have repeatedly said an initial seven-day warrant and the new one they secured this week were both &quot;unlawful&quot;.</p><p>Investigators have kept secret the length of the new warrant, with local media reports saying it is longer than the previous seven days.</p><div><a class="fr-green fr-strong" href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/world/2025/1/7/s-korea-investigators-get-new-warrant-to-arrest-president-yoon-2240">READ: S. Korea investigators get new warrant to arrest President Yoon</a></div><div><strong>- &#x27;High alert&#x27; -</strong></div><div><script data-wid="auto" type="text/javascript" src="https://content.viralize.tv/display/?zid=AAEyze-tm4MR6kEa&amp;cid=ABSyWltCYPtO2-4I&amp;activation=click&amp;vip_mode=playing&amp;vip_position=bottom-right"></script></div><p>Rival protesters for and against Yoon have gathered almost daily in the South Korean capital since the crisis unfolded.</p><p>On Sunday more demonstrations were planned by rival camps outside Yoon&#x27;s residence and on the streets of Seoul -- either calling for his impeachment to be declared invalid or for him to be detained immediately.</p><p>The president&#x27;s legal team say his guards remain on &quot;high alert&quot;.</p><p>Yoon would become the first sitting South Korean president to be arrested if investigators are able to detain him.</p><p>If convicted, he faces prison or even the death penalty.</p><p>A team of Corruption Investigation Office (CIO) officials and police are planning for the next attempt, which they said could be their last.</p><p>The CIO said anyone obstructing their attempt could be detained themselves and police reportedly held a meeting of top commanders on Friday to plan for the renewed effort.</p><p>Former Presidential Security Service (PSS) chief Park Chong-jun -- who resigned on Friday and was automatically replaced by a more hardline Yoon loyalist -- told reporters there must be no bloodshed in any second arrest attempt.</p><p>He faced two days of questioning and did not explain his resignation.</p><div><a class="fr-green fr-strong" href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/world/2025/1/6/south-korea-investigators-ask-police-to-arrest-yoon-1415">READ: South Korea investigators ask police to arrest Yoon</a></div><p>&quot;I am cooperating as diligently as possible with the authorities&#x27; investigation,&quot; he told reporters Saturday.</p><p>His replacement, acting PSS chief Kim Seong-hun, refused to turn up to a third summons on Saturday claiming he had to protect Yoon, opening him up to possible arrest.</p><p>Lee Jin-ha, head of the service&#x27;s security and safety division, was questioned on Saturday.</p><p>The National Office of Investigation, a police unit, sent a note to high-ranking police officials in Seoul requesting they prepare to mobilize 1,000 investigators for the fresh attempt, the Yonhap news agency reported.</p><p>As the crisis goes on Yoon&#x27;s ruling party has seen a bump in approval ratings.</p><p>A Gallup survey published Friday showed the People Power Party&#x27;s approval rating had risen to 34 percent from 24 percent three weeks ago.</p><div><strong>© Agence France-Presse</strong></div><div><strong>RELATED VIDEO:</strong></div><div><span class="fr-video fr-deletable fr-fvc fr-dvb fr-draggable" contenteditable="false" draggable="true"><iframe width="640" height="360" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/xeJvUUwPJQk?&amp;wmode=opaque&amp;rel=0" frameBorder="0" allowfullscreen="" class="fr-draggable"></iframe></span><br/></div>

<p>South Korea's suspended President Yoon Suk Yeol will not attend the first hearing of his impeachment trial next week because of safety concerns, his lawyer said on Sunday.</p>

South Korea's suspended President Yoon Suk Yeol will not attend the first hearing of his impeachment trial next week because of safety concerns, his lawyer said on Sunday.

South Korea's Yoon will not attend first impeachment hearing

News

Entertainment

Lifestyle

Sports

Metro.Style

More

Traffic

Manila

Horoscope

World

South Korea's Yoon will not attend first impeachment hearing

Agence France-Presse,

Hieun Shin

Published Jan 12, 2025 11:22 PM PHT

Read More:

South Korea

Yoon Suk Yeol

martial law

impeachment

ABS-CBN is the leading media and entertainment company in the Philippines, offering quality content across TV, radio, digital, and film. Committed to public service and promoting Filipino values, ABS-CBN continues to inspire and connect audiences worldwide.

Corporate

Investors

Governance

International Distribution

Corporate

Governance

Investors

International Distribution

NPC Seal of Registration

Privacy Policy

AI Policy

Terms of Service

Advertise with Us

© 2025 ABS-CBN Corporation. All Rights Reserved.

NPC Seal of Registration

Privacy Policy

Terms of Service

AI Policy

Advertise with Us

© 2025 ABS-CBN Corporation. All Rights Reserved.

NPC Seal of Registration

Privacy Policy

Terms of Service

AI Policy

Advertise with Us

© 2025 ABS-CBN Corporation. All Rights Reserved.