- Yoon has been stripped of his duties by parliament in an impeachment vote.
- A joint team of police and others investigate Yoon after his martial law measure.
- Large protests against ousted leader Yoon shake South Korea’s capital.
SEOUL: The legal team of South Korea’s impeached president argued Thursday that Yoon Suk Yeol did not commit an insurrection during his dramatic imposition of martial law this month.
Yoon was stripped of his duties by parliament in an impeachment vote over the weekend after his brief declaration of martial law on Dec. 3, which plunged South Korea into its worst political turmoil in decades.
The Constitutional Court began proceedings against Yoon on Monday and has about six months to decide whether to confirm his impeachment.
Yoon is also being investigated by a joint team of police, Ministry of Defense and anti-corruption investigators.
“Where in the world does a leader declare an insurrection during a live press conference?” Seok Dong-hyeon, spokesman for Yoon’s legal team, at a news conference in Seoul.
Yoon made his martial law declaration in a live television announcement, although lawmakers rejected it several hours later.
“Where can you find an insurrection that ends in two or three hours because the National Assembly told them to end martial law?” Seok said.
South Korean lawmakers forced their way into parliament through lines of soldiers to reject Yoon’s declaration of martial law.
Since then, large protests against the ousted leader, with smaller demonstrations supporting him, have rocked South Korea’s capital.
Yoon and some members of his inner circle face a possible life sentence, or even the death penalty, if convicted. He remains under a travel ban.
Seok said Yoon remained “clear and confident” about fighting his case in court.
Yoon failed to appear before South Korea’s corruption watchdog on Wednesday after being summoned for questioning, the Corruption Investigation Bureau said.
The Constitutional Court on Wednesday also ordered Yoon to submit his martial law decree, as well as minutes of cabinet meetings he held immediately before and after the announcement.
He has set a preliminary hearing for December 27, although Yoon is not required to attend.
