Jamaine Punzalan

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. South Korean Presidential Office/AFP

Article (news)

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/1740014695585Screenshot 2025-02-20 092421.jpg" style="width:960px" class="fr-fic fr-dib"/><span class="fr-inner" style="text-align:left"></span></span></span></div><p>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 Korea&#x27;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. South Korean Presidential Office/AFP</p><div><br/></div><p>Ousted South Korean leader Yoon Suk Yeol became the country&#x27;s first sitting head of state to stand trial in a criminal case as hearings opened Thursday on his bid to impose martial law.</p><p>The 64-year-old former prosecutor has been behind bars since he was arrested last month on charges of insurrection, for which he could be sentenced to life in prison or face the death penalty.</p><p>Criminal proceedings kicked off at 10 am (9 am in Manila) Thursday at Seoul&#x27;s Central District Court, an AFP reporter in the room said.</p><p>With Yoon in attendance, the courtroom was packed and there was heavy security around the building.</p><div><a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/world/2024/12/3/s-korea-s-president-yoon-embattled-conservative-0546">S. Korea&#x27;s President Yoon, embattled conservative</a></div><p>A supporter of the ousted president dressed in a Captain America outfit was spotted outside the security perimeter.</p><p>Prosecutors have accused the suspended president of being the &quot;ringleader of an insurrection&quot;.</p><p>But his lawyers insist the investigation lacked legitimacy from the start and have challenged the legality of his indictment, given it was within his power as head of state to declare martial law.</p><p>Separately, South Korea&#x27;s Constitutional Court is deliberating whether to formally remove Yoon from office following his impeachment by parliament in December.</p><p>His tenth hearing in that case is scheduled for 3 pm, just hours after he takes the stand in his criminal trial.</p><div><br/></div><div><strong>TOP BRASS TO TESTIFY</strong></div><div><br/></div><p>Called to testify at the Constitutional Court are Han Duck-soo, who was also impeached as acting president following Yoon&#x27;s removal from office in December, and former senior intelligence official Hong Jang-won.</p><p>The head of South Korea&#x27;s National Police Agency Cho Ji-ho -- also on trial on insurrection charges related to the martial law decree -- has also been called as a witness.</p><p>But it is still not clear whether that impeachment hearing will be his last before the Constitutional Court&#x27;s eight judges go behind closed doors to deliberate his fate.</p><p>That process could take up to a fortnight or even longer.</p><p>Previously impeached presidents Park Geun-hye and Roh Moo-hyun had to wait 11 and 14 days, respectively, to learn their fates.</p><p>If Yoon is removed from office, the country must hold fresh presidential elections within 60 days.</p><p>Much of Yoon&#x27;s impeachment trial has centered on the question of whether he violated the constitution by declaring martial law, which is reserved for national emergencies or times of war.</p><p>His decree only lasted around six hours as the opposition-led parliament defied troops to vote it down. But it has plunged the democracy into months of political turmoil with protests, two impeachments and a surge of online disinformation.</p><p>Yoon&#x27;s lawyers told reporters last week that his martial law declaration was &quot;an act of governance and cannot be subject to judicial review&quot;.</p><div><a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/world/2025/2/9/south-korean-protesters-split-with-their-opinions-as-yoon-heads-into-final-hearings-0022">South Korean protesters split with their opinions as Yoon heads into final hearings</a></div><div><strong>© Agence France-Presse</strong></div>

<p>Ousted South Korean leader Yoon Suk Yeol became the country's first sitting head of state to stand trial in a criminal case as hearings opened Thursday on his bid to impose martial law.</p>

Ousted South Korean leader Yoon Suk Yeol became the country's first sitting head of state to stand trial in a criminal case as hearings opened Thursday on his bid to impose martial law.

Yoon becomes South Korea's first sitting president to go on criminal trial

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Yoon becomes South Korea's first sitting president to go on criminal trial

Agence France-Presse

Published Feb 20, 2025 09:27 AM PHT

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