Seoul: President Yoon Suk Yeol has opted not to attend the Constitutional Court session regarding his impeachment ruling this Friday, as confirmed by his legal team on Thursday. The court is set to deliver its verdict on Yoon's impeachment, which stems from his brief imposition of martial law, at 11 a.m. on Friday.
According to Yonhap News Agency, Yoon's legal team cited concerns over public order and security as the reason for his absence, anticipating significant congestion. Instead, President Yoon plans to watch the proceedings from his residence in Seoul. The impeachment charges against him were brought by the National Assembly, accusing him of violating the Constitution and laws during his short-lived martial law enforcement on December 3.
The Constitutional Court will announce its decision from the court premises, with live broadcasts and limited public attendance permitted. Out of the 96,370 online applications for attendance, only 20 individuals were selected, resulting in a competition rate of 4,818 to 1.
In January, Yoon was arrested on criminal rebellion charges but was released from prison last month after a Seoul district court annulled his arrest, allowing him to stand trial without detention. The situation has sparked weeks of massive rallies across Seoul and other provinces, with demonstrators divided between supporting his removal or reinstatement.
Acting President Han Duck-soo has called on the public to accept the court's decision regarding the impeachment and urged politicians to avoid statements that could incite violence. In response to safety concerns, police have intensified security measures around the court in central Seoul, designating the area as restricted and preventing possible clashes.
Authorities plan to issue the highest-level alert, Gapho, on Friday to deploy all available forces to manage the situation. President Yoon has consistently denied any wrongdoing, asserting that the martial law declaration was intended as a warning against the main opposition party's alleged legislative power abuse.
Under the Constitution, at least six justices' consent is necessary to uphold an impeachment motion. Presently, there are eight justices on the bench tasked with making this critical decision.