"The Serious Decision Means Protesting the Constitutional Court Trial"
Conservative commentator Jo Gap-je, CEO of Jogapje.com, mentioned the "President Yoon Seok-yeol resignation rumor," prompting Yoon's legal team lawyer Kim Gye-ri to respond, saying, "No one has ever uttered or heard such nonsense as resignation."
On the 14th, Lawyer Kim stated on his Facebook, "It makes no sense to say resignation when making a serious decision in protest against the unconstitutional and illegal proceedings of the Constitutional Court," emphasizing this point.
President Yoon Suk-yeol is attending the "8th impeachment trial of President Yoon Suk-yeol" held at the Constitutional Court in Jongno-gu, Seoul on the 13th, conversing with his lawyers. 2025.2.13 Photo by Joint Press Corps
He added, "The legal team personally visits (President Yoon), and they continuously communicate before and after the arguments," stressing, "No one has ever heard such nonsense as resignation. Do not utter delusions."
The resignation rumor of President Yoon spread after Yoon's legal representative Yoon Gap-geun mentioned the day before that "if the Constitutional Court continues illegal and unfair hearings, the legal team will make a serious decision." Regarding the "serious decision," Jo analyzed, "I don't know what calculation President Yoon will make, but there is a possibility of an abrupt resignation statement."
On the same day, Jo said on YTN Radio's "Issue & People," "In a way, that choice might be politically correct," adding, "Because among legal experts, the dominant expectation is that the dismissal decision will be 8 to 0."
He particularly analyzed that if President Yoon resigns before the Constitutional Court's impeachment ruling, it would greatly affect the early presidential election. He said, "Currently, President Yoon's approval rating is quite high, and if he decides to resign, sympathy could create very favorable public opinion not only among the People Power Party but also among anti-Lee Jae-myung groups," adding, "Sympathy would deal a significant blow to Lee Jae-myung, leader of the Democratic Party, and the Democratic Party. It could be the most rational choice that benefits him now."
Regarding the resignation rumor, the opposition criticized it as a trick. Kim Min-seok, Supreme Council Member of the Democratic Party, said at the Supreme Council meeting held at the National Assembly on the 14th, "What is this serious decision? Are you saying he might even resign?" He added, "Don't even dream of a resignation trick to temporarily extend former president privileges." He emphasized, "The unconstitutional and illegal martial law rebellion will ultimately be judged by dismissal."
The Constitutional Court's impeachment ruling on President Yoon is expected to be delivered as early as the beginning of next month. Initially, the Constitutional Court planned to conclude the impeachment trial proceedings after the 8th hearing on the 13th, but it decided to hold the 9th hearing on the 18th.
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