Yoon Suk Yeol, president of South Korea, has been ordered to go on trial for impeachment after being suspended for declaring martial law and inciting social unrest.
After Yoon’s steps sparked widespread protests calling for him to move downward, MPs voted to impeach him next Saturday.
The court then has six months to decide whether to fire Yoon or restore him.
The People Power Party ( PPP ) in power in Yoon has been grappling with the fallout ever since its leader resigned on Monday and has been a source of contention ever since.
The jury is under stress to decide quickly and close political doubt, despite the fact that Yoon’s impeachment trial hearings could last months. During court trials, activists have pledged to continue making demands for Yoon’s treatment.
In the previous two circumstances, the court upheld the president’s prosecution while the court reversed one choice.
According to observers, Yoon’s test will be made more complicated by the fact that just six justices out of nine are on the bench because three of them recently retired and have not had their positions filled.
Within 60 days of the court’s decision to uphold Yoon’s prosecution, the nation must keep new presidential elections. In the meantime, Prime Minister Han Duck-soo is serving as acting leader.
Whether Yoon may appear on the witness stand during the jury sessions is a mystery.
He was ordered in afterwards for questioning after being denied a request to meet with lawyers in Seoul on Sunday. Police may proceed to assault him if he doesn’t come forth this month.
Yoon has defended his decision to impose martial law, and he has previously more pledged to battle until the end of the day after being impeached.
Days after the democratic court convened on Monday night, PPP head Han Dong-hoon announced his resignation.
Getty ImagesIn a staged press conference, Han apologized respectfully to all those who are experiencing this crisis.
Han has faced growing calling for his departure especially from the big pro-Yoon party of his party, following the government’s prosecution.
Han had initially tried to stage an orderly exit for Yoon. But after a defiant speech by Yoon, Han did an about-face and called for his impeachment, saying it was the only way to stop him.
On Saturday, 12 PPP politicians voted for prosecution, enabling the action to complete. But most of the various PPP legislators voted against Yoon’s prosecution.
Following the vote, all five PPP Supreme Council members declared that they would retire, which may essentially dissolve the party’s management.
As the Supreme Council has been “destroyed”, Han, it was now “impossible” to assist his responsibilities as party chief.
” While it pains me to think of my heartbroken supporters, I don’t regret it”, Han said, in reference to his decision to call for Yoon’s impeachment.