South Korean president who declared martial law claims he ‘believes in liberal democracy’
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Yoon issues first public remarks at constitutional court hearing into whether he should be stripped of office. South Korean president Yoon Suk Yeol told judges he was a “firm believer of liberal democracy” as he appeared for his impeachment trial for the first time since imposing a shock martial law decree.
![[Impeached South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol attends his impeachment trial at the Constitutional Court in Seoul]](https://static.independent.co.uk/2025/01/21/08/bf697f3b93194e9bb9170059139f067a.jpg)
Mr Yoon appeared for the constitutional court hearing to decide whether to remove him from office permanently or reinstate him after he was impeached by the National Assembly. The president became the first sitting leader of the country to be arrested last week under a separate criminal investigation on insurrection charges for imposing martial law on 5 December and throwing the country into political turmoil.
![[Supporters of impeached South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol participate in an rally near the Constitutional Court]](https://static.independent.co.uk/2025/01/21/08/2195031299.jpg)
Dressed in a navy-coloured suit with a burgundy tie, Mr Yoon entered the courtroom at 2pm on Tuesday and waited to speak before eight judges and acting court president Moon Hyung-bae. "It’s my first time attending today, so I will speak briefly," Mr Yoon, a career prosecutor before his 2022 election as president, said after asking permission to speak.
"Since coming of age, I have lived with a firm belief in liberal democracy until this very day, and especially during my time in public service," he said. "As the constitutional court is an institution that exists to defend the constitution, I ask the justices to consider me favorably in various respects.".
