South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol to Stand Trial in Criminal Case

SEAToday.com, Jakarta - Ousted South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol faces trial with court proceedings beginning Thursday regarding his attempt to impose martial law.

The 64-year-old ex-prosecutor, who has been in custody since January, faces insurrection charges—a crime that carries a potential life sentence or even the death penalty if convicted.

Prosecutors have labeled Yoon the “ringleader of an insurrection,” while his defense team argues that the investigation lacked legitimacy from the outset. His lawyers insist that, as head of state, he had the constitutional authority to declare martial law and are challenging the validity of his indictment.

In a separate case, South Korea’s constitutional court is deliberating whether to formally remove Yoon from office following his impeachment by parliament in December. His 10th hearing in that case is set for 3 p.m. on Thursday, just hours after his criminal trial begins.

Key witnesses in the impeachment proceedings include Han Duck-soo, who served as acting president after Yoon’s suspension and was also impeached; Hong Jang-won, a former senior intelligence official; and Cho Ji-ho, head of South Korea’s national police agency, who is also facing insurrection charges linked to the martial law decree.

If Yoon is officially removed from office, South Korea will be required to hold a new presidential election within 60 days.

A key issue in Yoon’s impeachment trial is whether his martial law decree violated the constitution. His six-hour-long decree was overturned by parliament, which defied military presence to revoke the order.

The crisis has sparked months of instability, with protests, two impeachments, and rising online disinformation.

In response, Yoon’s legal team firmly stated, “it (the martial law declaration) was an act of governance and cannot be subject to judicial review,” as quoted by The Guardian.

Writer: Andi Raisa Malaha Thambas