South Korean President Yoon Suk-yeol will not attend the first hearing of his impeachment trial scheduled for Tuesday, citing safety concerns, his defense counsel announced on Sunday.
Yoon’s lawyer, Yun Gap-geun, told media outlets that ongoing efforts by 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 have raised serious safety issues.
“Concerns about safety and potential mishaps remain,” Yun said, emphasizing that adequate measures must be in place for the president to appear in court.
The Constitutional Court is set to hold the first official hearing of Yoon’s impeachment trial on January 14, with subsequent hearings scheduled for January 16, 21, 23, and February 4.
The impeachment motion against President Yoon was passed by the National Assembly on December 14, 2024, leading to his suspension from presidential duties as the court deliberates the case over a period of up to 180 days.
The president faces investigation over allegations of being a ringleader in an insurrection. On December 3, Yoon declared martial law, a move that was swiftly revoked by the National Assembly just hours later.
Efforts to arrest Yoon have been complicated. Investigators attempted to detain him at the presidential residence on January 3, but were thwarted by the presidential security service. A Seoul court issued a second arrest warrant on Tuesday, extending the validity period to apprehend the impeached president.
As tensions escalate, the nation watches closely to see how the situation unfolds and what it means for South Korea’s political stability and future.
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South Korean president to skip 1st hearing of impeachment trial
cgtn.com
