South Korean Leader Yoon Faces Insurrection Trial
Ousted South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol appeared in court on Monday to face criminal charges of insurrection, stemming from his short-lived declaration of martial law late last year. The former leader, impeached and removed from office earlier this month, insisted his actions were not an attempted coup but a necessary response to political gridlock.
"The defendant made it impossible for constitutional institutions to exercise their authority based on an unlawful declaration," prosecutors argued in their opening statement at the Seoul Central District Court. Yoon, dressed in a dark navy suit and red tie, denied all charges, asserting that his six-hour martial law order was a "peaceful message" to the nation.
Chaos and Constitutional Crisis
Yoon’s December 3 declaration plunged South Korea into turmoil, triggering mass protests and a swift parliamentary rejection. The Constitutional Court ruled this month that his actions violated the constitution, leading to his removal from office. The court cited the chaos that ensued, disrupting governance, the economy, and foreign policy.
Prosecutors allege Yoon sought to paralyze state institutions, including the National Assembly, by deploying troops to forcibly remove lawmakers. Two senior military officers testified Monday that they received orders to "drag out" legislators during the crisis. Yoon denied issuing such commands, blaming miscommunication with defense officials.
"The military is trained under different guidelines, and some may have overstepped," he said.
The martial law attempt collapsed after parliamentary staff barricaded entrances and repelled special forces with fire extinguishers. Lawmakers then voted overwhelmingly to overturn the decree.
Lengthy Trial and Political Fallout
Yoon, a former prosecutor who once convicted impeached President Park Geun-hye, faces life imprisonment if found guilty of insurrection. South Korea retains the death penalty but has not carried out an execution in decades. Legal experts predict a protracted trial, with a verdict unlikely before August.
The political upheaval has deepened divisions between conservatives and liberals, raising concerns over institutional stability. As Yoon returned to his private residence last week, conservative supporters cheered his motorcade, while opposition leaders condemned his refusal to apologize.
Meanwhile, South Korea prepares for a snap election on June 3 to restore constitutional order. Opposition frontrunner Lee Jae-myung has already begun campaigning, pledging aggressive investments in AI technology. Conservative rival Hong Joon-pyo, who lost to Yoon in the last primary, has also announced another presidential bid.
The trial continues as the nation grapples with the fallout of its latest political crisis.