Impeachment Trial Concludes Tomorrow...
Yoon Expected to Deliver Final Statement Himself
If Impeachment Upheld in Mid-March, Presidential Election in May
Lee's Appeal Verdict Also Likely by End of Next Month
President Yoon Suk-yeol's constitutional court impeachment trial arguments will conclude on the 25th. Both the National Assembly side and President Yoon's side have devoted all their efforts, sacrificing their weekend to prepare for the final arguments and the parties' statements (closing statements). Attention is focused on what message President Yoon will deliver during the final argument, which has no time limit. On the 26th, Lee Jae-myung, leader of the Democratic Party of Korea, who will appear at the second trial sentencing hearing for the Public Official Election Act violation case, will also attend court to deliver his closing statement. Depending on the results of the two trials expected in March, political schedules such as an 'early presidential election' will also be determined.
No Time Limit on Final Arguments in Impeachment Trial
On the afternoon of the 20th, President Yoon Seok-yeol, seated and deep in thought, attended the 10th impeachment trial hearing at the Grand Bench of the Constitutional Court in Jongno-gu, Seoul. February 20, 2025. Photo by Joint Press Corps
The Constitutional Court announced that during the 11th hearing starting at 2 p.m. on the 25th, there will be no time limit on the final statements of the prosecutors, led by Jeong Cheong-rae, chairman of the National Assembly Judiciary Committee, and the respondent, President Yoon. President Yoon is expected to express his opinions on the issues, including his views on the martial law situation, during his closing statement.
President Yoon's legal team visited Seoul Detention Center throughout last weekend to meet with him. The president's side plans to focus on the point that the declaration of martial law was a warning measure decided under a national emergency situation equivalent to the opposition party's impeachment attempt and unilateral budget cuts. They are expected to argue that impeachment should be dismissed because "nothing happened." The National Assembly's legal team held a full meeting of the prosecutors, organizing their arguments based on the evidence submitted to the Constitutional Court and the witness examinations conducted so far, and reportedly discussed who would present during the final arguments.
When Will the Supreme Court Ruling on Lee Jae-myung Be?
The Seoul High Court Criminal Division 6-2, which is handling Lee's appeal trial, will on the 26th question sentencing witnesses requested by both Lee's side and the prosecution for 30 minutes each, conduct documentary evidence examination, and hold a sentencing hearing in the afternoon to conclude the arguments. Since sentencing usually occurs within a month after the sentencing hearing, it is highly likely that Lee's second trial verdict will be announced around the end of March. Lee was sentenced to one year in prison with a two-year probation in the first trial last November. If this is confirmed as is, Lee will not be able to run in the presidential election.
In particular, if a sentence that disqualifies election eligibility (a fine of 1 million KRW or more) is handed down in the second trial, attention will inevitably focus on the timing of the Supreme Court's final ruling. If President Yoon is removed through the impeachment trial, an early presidential election will be held within 60 days, and the election date could be in mid-May. Whether Lee's Supreme Court final ruling is issued by then or not will affect his eligibility to run.
Considering the usual progress of court proceedings, even if the second trial conclusion comes out in March, it is generally believed that a Supreme Court final ruling by May is unlikely. This is because the submission deadline for the appeal brief to the opposing court and the period for case assignment typically take more than a month.
Pro-Impeachment vs. Anti-Impeachment, Off-Site Camp Battles Intensify
As the verdict for President Yoon's impeachment trial approaches, the confrontation between pro-impeachment and anti-impeachment camps is intensifying. Save Korea, a conservative Protestant group, held a large-scale anti-impeachment rally in Daejeon on the 22nd, following rallies in Daegu and Gwangju. A Save Korea official stated, "We will focus on the rally to be held in Yeouido, Seoul, on the 1st of next month." They aim to bring the 'anti-impeachment momentum' from the provinces to Seoul.
The pro-impeachment side also mobilized fully to counter. The Yoon Suk-yeol Regime Resignation Daejeon Movement Headquarters held a pro-impeachment rally near the location of Save Korea's rally. The Democratic Party also held an off-site rally in Jongno-gu, Seoul, on the 22nd for the first time in three months to engage in a public opinion battle. About 80 party leaders and members, including floor leader Park Chan-dae and Supreme Council member Kim Byung-joo, attended. This was the result of direct encouragement from Lee Jae-myung.
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