President Yoon Suk-yeol delivers his closing argument in the impeachment trial at the Constitutional Court on Feb. 25, stating that the declaration of martial law was a public appeal framed as martial law. He added that if reinstated, he would not be preoccupied with the remainder of his term but would instead focus on constitutional and political reform. /Constitutional Court
President Yoon Suk-yeol delivers his closing argument in the impeachment trial at the Constitutional Court on Feb. 25, stating that the declaration of martial law was a public appeal framed as martial law. He added that if reinstated, he would not be preoccupied with the remainder of his term but would instead focus on constitutional and political reform. /Constitutional Court

President Yoon Suk-yeol defended his Dec. 3 declaration of martial law in a Feb. 25 hearing before the Constitutional Court, arguing that the opposition’s impeachment motions, legislative overreach, and budgetary obstruction had left him no choice. He maintained that the opposition’s use of political authority to disrupt government functions amounted to a subversion of constitutional order.

“If reinstated, I will dedicate the latter half of my term to constitutional and political reform,” Yoon said during the final hearing of his impeachment trial. He dismissed concerns over the remainder of his term under the current Constitution, a statement widely interpreted as a proposal to amend the Constitution and potentially shorten his tenure if reinstated. The hearing came 73 days after the National Assembly voted to impeach him on Dec. 14.

Yoon asserted that the current constitutional framework, established by the 1987 amendment introducing direct presidential elections, was outdated. “From the start of my presidency, I intended to pursue constitutional and electoral reforms in the latter half of my term,” he said. He emphasized that such reforms required the “sacrifice and determination” of the sitting president—a challenge he claimed to be prepared to take on. “I will push for a constitutional amendment that aligns with our evolving society and political structure,” he vowed, stressing his full commitment to the effort. He also underscored national unity as a key focus of the reform process. If reinstated, he said, he would prioritize foreign affairs while entrusting significant domestic responsibilities to the prime minister.

On the martial law declaration, Yoon framed it as a necessary warning about the country’s crisis, urging the public to recognize its gravity and work toward a resolution. He dedicated a significant portion of his argument to justifying the move while also expressing regret. “I sincerely apologize for the confusion and inconvenience it caused the public,” he said. However, he did not explicitly state whether he would accept the court’s ruling on his impeachment.

In response, Rep. Jung Chung-rae, chair of the National Assembly’s legislation and judiciary committee, accused Yoon of attempting to undermine the Constitution and override parliamentary authority. “For the sake of democracy and national progress, he must be removed from office,” Jung said.

With the 11th and final hearing concluded, the Constitutional Court is expected to issue its ruling by mid-March.