Al Mayadeen English

  • Ar
  • Es
  • x
Al Mayadeen English

Slogan

  • News
    • Politics
    • Economy
    • Sports
    • Arts&Culture
    • Health
    • Miscellaneous
    • Technology
    • Environment
  • Articles
    • Opinion
    • Analysis
    • Blog
    • Features
  • Videos
    • NewsFeed
    • Video Features
    • Explainers
    • TV
    • Digital Series
  • Infographs
  • In Pictures
  • • LIVE
News
  • Politics
  • Economy
  • Sports
  • Arts&Culture
  • Health
  • Miscellaneous
  • Technology
  • Environment
Articles
  • Opinion
  • Analysis
  • Blog
  • Features
Videos
  • NewsFeed
  • Video Features
  • Explainers
  • TV
  • Digital Series
Infographs
In Pictures
  • Africa
  • Asia
  • Asia-Pacific
  • Europe
  • Latin America
  • MENA
  • Palestine
  • US & Canada
BREAKING
Local sources: A car bomb exploded at the government's General Security headquarters near the Baniyas Court in the Tartous countryside, western Syria
Israeli artillery strikes target Khan Younis, the Gaza Strip.
Palestinian media: IOF arrest leader Jamal al-Tawil, who was liberated as part of the prisoner exchange, from his home in al-Bireh.
Palestinian media: 'Israel' launches two airstrikes on eastern Khan Younis, Gaza.
Al Mayadeen’s correspondent in Gaza: Israeli occupation forces carry out demolitions in eastern Gaza City.
Venezuelan Foreign Ministry: The National Armed Forces will remain on alert and mobilized in the face of this extremely dangerous provocation.
Venezuelan Foreign Ministry: This is not a defense exercise, but rather a military aggression aimed at turning the Caribbean into a space for violence and US hegemony.
Venezuelan Foreign Ministry: The government of Trinidad and Tobago has surrendered the country's sovereignty to act as a military colony serving US interests.
Rapid Support Forces attack El-Fasher, west Sudan.
Al Mayadeen correspondent: One martyr and one wounded in an Israeli drone attack on the town of Hafir, west of Baalbek, eastern Lebanon.

Yoon to become South Korea's first sitting leader on criminal trial

  • By Al Mayadeen English
  • Source: News websites
  • 20 Feb 2025 09:34
3 Min Read

Impeached President Yoon Suk Yeol's court hearings are scheduled to commence on Thursday, making him the country's first sitting leader to face a criminal trial.

Listen
  • x
  • A supporter of impeached South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol attends a rally to oppose his impeachment near the Constitutional Court in Seoul, South Korea, Thursday, Feb. 20, 2025. (AP)
    A supporter of impeached South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol attends a rally to oppose his impeachment near the Constitutional Court in Seoul, South Korea, on Thursday, February 20, 2025. (AP)

Impeached South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol is set to become the first leader in the country's history to face a criminal trial, with court proceedings starting Thursday over his attempt to impose martial law.

The 64-year-old former prosecutor has been behind bars since his arrest in January on insurrection charges, which could lead to a life sentence or even the death penalty if convicted. His trial is set to begin at Seoul’s central district court.

Prosecutors have labeled Yoon the “ringleader of an insurrection,” while his legal team argues that the investigation was initially flawed. His lawyers insist that declaring martial law was within his authority as head of state and have challenged the validity of his indictment.

Meanwhile, South Korea’s constitutional court is deliberating on whether to officially remove Yoon from office following his impeachment by parliament in December. His 10th impeachment hearing is scheduled for 3 pm on Thursday, just hours after his criminal trial begins.

Among those called to testify at the constitutional court are Han Duck-soo, who was also impeached as acting president after Yoon’s removal, and former senior intelligence official Hong Jang-won. Additionally, Cho Ji-ho, the national police agency chief, who is also facing insurrection charges over the martial law decree, has been summoned as a witness.

It remains unclear whether this will be the final impeachment hearing before the constitutional court’s eight judges deliberate behind closed doors—a process that could take up to two weeks or longer. Previous impeached presidents, Park Geun-hye and Roh Moo-hyun, waited 11 and 14 days, respectively, for a final verdict.

Related News

Trump eyes Chicago for National Guard troop deployment

South Korea's ousted Yoon defies prosecutors, blocks warrant execution

The case

On December 14, the court will assess parliament's impeachment of Yoon and determine whether to permanently remove him from office or restore him. If he is dismissed, a new presidential election will be held within 60 days.

Yoon has contended that as president, he had the authority to issue his martial law declaration, which lasted around six hours before being withdrawn due to legislative opposition. 

He cited political stagnation and threats from "anti-state forces" sympathetic to the DPRK as further justifications for the decision.

Yoon also dispatched the military to the National Election Commission, subsequently claiming that the decree was required in part because the NEC had refused to address concerns about election hacking, a charge denied by election authorities.

His case in the Constitutional Court has also included claims that he never intended to prevent parliament from functioning, even though the order was publicly issued and military and police were sent to the assembly.

Yoon’s legal team maintains that imposing martial law was a “governance decision” and therefore should not be subject to judicial review.

Read more: South Korean President complies to arrest, says avoiding 'bloodshed'

  • martial law
  • Impeachment
  • Yoon Suk-Yeol
  • South Korea

Most Read

'Israel’s Digital Iron Dome: Weaponizing the web against Palestine

'Israel’s Digital Iron Dome: Weaponizing the web against Palestine

  • Technology
  • 24 Oct 2025
Abu Hamza, the spokesperson for the Al-Quds Brigades, during a speech televised on October 22, 2025 (Al-Quds Brigades Military Media)

Al-Quds Brigades' Abu Hamza mourns leaders, vows continued resistance

  • Politics
  • 22 Oct 2025
US missionary kidnapped in Niger capital, suspected taken toward Mali

US missionary kidnapped in Niger capital, suspected taken toward Mali

  • Africa
  • 23 Oct 2025
What Marr evidently didn't seem to understand was that Hedges isn't saying that Western journalists manipulate the truth, but that they systematically amplify Israeli narratives they know are false. (Al Mayadeen English; Illustrated by Batoul Chamas)

Western journalists know they have a case to answer for their betrayal of Gaza, and it frightens them

  • Opinion
  • 24 Oct 2025

Coverage

All
War on Gaza

Read Next

All
Sheikh Naim Qassem speaks during an interview with Al-Manar TV, October 26, 2025 (Screenshot)
Politics

Hezbollah ready to face 'Israel' in case of war: Sheikh Naim Qassem

A Russian cargo train arrives at Astara Railway Wharf, March 2018 (IRNA)
Economy

Tehran, Moscow to finalize INSTC rail project next month

Iran's Parliament Speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf addresses the media after submitting his candidacy for the Islamic Republic's upcoming presidential election in Tehran on June 3, 2024 (AP)
Politics

UNSCR 2231 termination marks major win for Iran’s diplomacy: Qalibaf

ap
Politics

'Israel' killed 40 Palestinian children in West Bank since January: UN

Al Mayadeen English

Al Mayadeen is an Arab Independent Media Satellite Channel.

All Rights Reserved

  • x
  • Privacy Policy
  • About Us
  • Contact Us
  • Authors
Android
iOS