12th January 2025 – (Seoul) South Korean President Yoon Suk-yeol will not attend the first hearing of his impeachment trial scheduled for Tuesday, as announced by his defence counsel on Sunday. Lawyer Yun Gap-geun cited ongoing safety concerns related to the efforts of the Corruption Investigation Office for High-ranking Officials (CIO) and the National Office of Investigation (NOI) to execute an arrest warrant for the impeached president.
Yun stated that until safety and security issues are adequately addressed, Yoon will refrain from participating in the trial proceedings. He emphasised that the president would be willing to attend once these concerns are resolved.
The constitutional court is set to hold the initial hearing of Yoon’s impeachment trial on 14th January, with subsequent hearings planned for 16th, 21st, 23rd January, and 4th February. The impeachment motion, which passed in the National Assembly on 14th December, 2024, has suspended Yoon’s presidential powers for the duration of the court’s deliberation, which may last up to 180 days.
Yoon has been named by investigative agencies as a suspected leader in an insurrection charge. He declared martial law on 3rd December, only for the National Assembly to revoke it hours later. Attempts to arrest Yoon at the presidential residence on 3rd January were thwarted by the presidential security service, which blocked the execution of the warrant.
In a recent development, a Seoul court has extended the warrant for Yoon’s arrest, issuing a second warrant against the impeached president. The unfolding situation raises significant concerns about the political stability in South Korea as the trial progresses.
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