Yoon's Legal Team Appointment, Active Response to Impeachment Trial Reasons [AK Radio]

President Yoon Suk-yeol has officially appointed a legal defense team 13 days after the passage of the impeachment motion, marking the beginning of a full-scale response to the impeachment trial. Until now, President Yoon had maintained silence and non-response, but he has chosen a strategy to actively present his position through the Constitutional Court's impeachment trial. This shift is seen as a move away from passive responses toward a public legal defense.

At 2:02 p.m. on the 27th, the first preparatory hearing for President Yoon's impeachment trial was held at the Constitutional Court. Presided over by Justices Jung Hyung-sik and Lee Mi-seon, the hearing was attended by the National Assembly side, including Impeachment Prosecutor and National Assembly Legislation and Judiciary Committee Chairman Jung Cheong-rae, and co-lead counsel Kim Hee-soo. The hearing began around 2:04 p.m. after a slight delay in the arrival of President Yoon's legal team.

President Yoon’s Side Reveals Legal Defense Team on the 27th

On the morning of the same day, President Yoon’s side made a sudden public announcement of the impeachment trial legal defense team. Among the members is lawyer Bae Bo-yoon, a former constitutional researcher who served as the Constitutional Court’s public relations officer during former President Park Geun-hye’s impeachment case. Also joining is lawyer Yoon Gap-geun, who previously served as head of the Anti-Corruption Investigation Division at the Supreme Prosecutors’ Office and as Daegu High Prosecutor. Yoon Gap-geun was recently tried on lobbying charges related to Lime Asset Management but was ultimately acquitted by the Supreme Court in December last year. He also ran unsuccessfully in the 21st general election as a candidate for the People Power Party’s predecessor, the United Future Party.

Additionally, lawyer Bae Jin-han, a former judge and a classmate of President Yoon from Seoul National University Law School (class of ’79), joined the team later. Notably, Yoon Gap-geun is known to be close to President Yoon and is expected to play a key role in public relations and media response as the team’s spokesperson.

What Prompted the Shift to an Active Response?

Several complex factors contributed to President Yoon’s strategic shift from silence to active response. First, negative public opinion has been growing due to the prolonged delay tactics. In particular, criticism arose over the fact that President Yoon, a legal professional, was passively responding to legal procedures. There were pointed remarks that someone knowledgeable about the law should not be dragging out the process in this manner.

Second, voices calling for change have increased even within the conservative camp. With the opposition party’s impeachment offensive continuing and an impeachment motion against Prime Minister Han Duck-soo passing in the National Assembly, it was judged that further delay would do more harm than good. The perception that active defense and response are necessary has spread.

Yonhap News

President Yoon’s Legal Strategy and Response to the Corruption Investigation Office

Representative of President Yoon Seok-yeol after the closing argument session Yonhap News

President Yoon’s legal strategy was outlined in his nationwide address on December 12. That address was regarded as a de facto brief of arguments, in which President Yoon explained that the consideration of martial law was an emergency measure to prevent the opposition party’s reckless actions, unlike past martial law. He flatly denied the charge of rebellion, saying, "Where is a two-hour rebellion?" and emphasized that the exercise of the emergency martial law proclamation power is a political act not subject to judicial review, similar to the exercise of pardon or diplomatic powers.

Meanwhile, a different approach is taken regarding the investigation by the Corruption Investigation Office for High-ranking Officials (CIO). The CIO has sent a third summons to President Yoon, but his side is expected not to comply. President Yoon’s longtime lawyer, Seok Dong-hyun, stated that "the president will respond to investigative agencies after his basic position has been explained to the justices and the public during the impeachment trial process."

If President Yoon refuses to appear again, the CIO may consider coercive measures such as requesting an arrest warrant.

Currently, President Yoon is staying at the Hannam-dong residence, reportedly holding a worship service there recently to mark Christmas. Although he initially planned to visit Yeongam Church in Seongbuk-gu, Seoul, considering the current political situation, he held the service at the residence with about ten people. The presidential office stated that a pastor from a Seoul church led the worship but did not disclose further details.

President Yoon Staying at Hannam-dong Residence

President Yoon is known to be minimizing external contacts while his duties are suspended. He is focusing mainly on communication with his legal team and preparing for legal responses. The presidential office is also releasing information about his movements and communications in an extremely limited manner.

South Korea’s political situation is currently facing significant turmoil. With both President Yoon and Prime Minister Han Duck-soo suspended from duty, Deputy Prime Minister Choi Sang-mok is acting as the presidential authority. This political instability is also affecting the economy, causing increased volatility in the exchange rate and other negative impacts.

There are also concerns about how South Korea is viewed externally. If political turmoil prolongs, serious damage to diplomacy, security, and the economy is feared. Accordingly, public attention is focused on the outcome of the Constitutional Court’s impeachment trial and how President Yoon will present his position throughout the process. Particularly, there is keen interest in how the legal interpretations and defense arguments presented by President Yoon’s side during the Constitutional Court’s impeachment trial will be received by the public.