South Korea’s suspended president Yoon Suk Yeol on Tuesday appeared for the first time at the Constitutional Court for his impeachment trial.
Yoon asked that the court’s judges consider him “favourably,” saying he has always held a “firm belief in liberal democracy,” the Yonhap news agency reported.
It was the first time in South Korea’s history that a president has appeared in person for an impeachment trial. Former presidents Park Geun Hye and Roh Moo Hyeon were represented by their lawyers on previous such occasions.
Yoon, 64, declared martial law in a shock address to the nation on the evening on December 3, in what appeared to be an attempt to crack down on his political opponents.
The declaration was short lived, but plunged South Korea into political turmoil. Until last week, Yoon had barricaded himself inside his Seoul compound as he evaded arrest and questioning.
The unicameral National Assembly voted for Yoon’s impeachment on December 14. That act suspended him from the presidency, but the court must now decide whether the impeachment should be upheld.
If Yoon is formally ousted from the office by the top court, it would pave the way for a snap presidential election.
Running parallel to the trial is a probe by the Corruption Investigation Agency for High-Ranking Officials. The agency is investigating whether Yoon is guilty of trying to instigate a sedition with his martial law declaration. If found guilty, Yoon faces a long prison sentence.
