South Korea’s Constitutional Court will hear final arguments in President Yoon Suk-yeol’s impeachment trial on Feb. 25, concluding the 10th hearing. Once the hearings end, the court’s eight justices will deliberate on whether to uphold or dismiss the impeachment. While past presidential impeachment rulings were typically delivered within two weeks of closing arguments, legal experts say the case’s complexity, including questions of martial law’s constitutionality and insurrection allegations, could delay the verdict.
Prime Minister Han Duck-soo testified as a witness during the Feb. 20 hearing, describing the circumstances surrounding the Dec. 3 martial law declaration. Han criticized the opposition’s frequent impeachment motions and budget cuts, saying, “The unilateral tyranny of the majority is not the foundation of democracy.“ He questioned whether the 29 impeachment motions filed by the opposition aligned with public expectations, noting that such practices are rare globally.
However, Han refrained from stating whether the martial law met the legal criteria of a “wartime or emergency situation,” saying, “That is ultimately for the courts and the public to decide.” Regarding the cabinet meeting held on the day of the declaration, he admitted, “There were both formal and substantive flaws.” Yoon left the hearing room before Han’s cross-examination began.
Hong Jang-won, former deputy director of the National Intelligence Service, also testified about the controversial “arrest list.” He said there was confusion about when and where the memo was written and called for corrections. Yoon responded, “The issue with the memo is that it has been linked to allegations of my direct involvement in an insurrection and impeachment plot.”
Cho Ji-ho, chief of the National Police Agency, who previously told prosecutors that Yoon had instructed him to “remove lawmakers,” appeared as a witness but largely avoided answering questions, citing his ongoing criminal trial.
Meanwhile, Yoon’s legal representative, Seok Dong-hyun, spoke at a rally opposing the impeachment, relaying Yoon’s message: “I will return to duty as soon as possible and lead the nation with the power of generational unity.”
