In a tense political climate, South Korea's first impeached sitting president, Yoon Suk Yeol, appeared before the Constitutional Court to contest allegations linked to his martial law declaration. The scandal erupted in December when Yoon imposed martial law, prompting troops to encircle the National Assembly. Despite his claims that the military action was merely a warning to opposition lawmakers, allegations have surfaced that he ordered the removal of legislators to thwart a vote against his decree. Yoon denied these charges, arguing it would have led to unbearable consequences.
Testimony from military commanders contradicted Yoon's narrative. Special Forces Commander Kwak Jong-keun testified that Yoon directly instructed him to "quickly destroy the door and drag out the lawmakers." The incident left South Korea in a political quagmire, resulting in Yoon's impeachment on December 14 and his subsequent detention on January 15. The Constitutional Court has until June to decide his fate, though a swifter ruling is anticipated. Meanwhile, Yoon faces possible grave charges, including rebellion, abuse of power, and treason.
The crisis has placed a spotlight on South Korea's democratic resilience and fueled intense domestic discord. Widespread backlash led to volatile demonstrations, resulting in injuries and arrests. (This story was generated by Newser's AI chatbot. Source: the AP)
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