The political scene in South Korea is heating up! 🔥 President Yoon Suk-yeol has announced he won't attend the first hearing of his impeachment trial scheduled for Tuesday. His defense counsel cited safety concerns as the main reason for his absence.
Yoon's lawyer, Yun Gap-geun, mentioned that with ongoing efforts by the Corruption Investigation Office for High-ranking Officials (CIO) and the National Office of Investigation (NOI) to execute an arrest warrant for the impeached president, safety is a top priority. 🛡️
\"Until safety and security issues are properly addressed, President Yoon cannot appear in court,\" the counsel stated.
The constitutional court has lined up the first official hearing for January 14, with more sessions on January 16, 21, 23, and February 4. 📅 But with the president's powers suspended since December 14, when the National Assembly passed the impeachment motion, the nation's leadership is in a state of flux.
In a dramatic turn of events, President Yoon declared martial law on December 3. However, the National Assembly quickly revoked it hours later. The plot thickens as investigators tried to arrest Yoon at his residence on January 3, but were blocked by the presidential security service. Talk about intense! 😱
A Seoul court recently issued a second warrant, extending its validity to apprehend the impeached leader. Will they succeed this time? The nation watches with bated breath. 👀
This unfolding saga feels like something straight out of a K-drama, and the stakes couldn't be higher. Stay tuned as we keep you updated on this political rollercoaster! 🎢
Reference(s):
South Korean president to skip 1st hearing of impeachment trial
cgtn.com
