Pres. Yoon makes final appeal against impeachment at last Constitutional Court hearing, offering to serve shorter term

President Yoon Suk Yeol delivered an hour-long closing statement at the Constitutional Court late Tuesday at the final hearing of his impeachment trial.

Our correspondent Oh Soo-young covers his remarks and more.

President Yoon Suk Yeol said he would serve a shorter term and pursue Constitutional reform to reduce executive power, to build national unity, dignity and security, as he delivered his final argument against his impeachment.

"The Constitutional Court held President Yoon's 11th and final impeachment hearing trial on Tuesday some 73 days after the National Assembly passed a motion to remove him from power, following his December third martial law order."

Standing as the last speaker of his trial, Yoon delivered a 67-minute statement to the 8-member judicial bench.

He reiterated his stance that martial law was a one-off plea to the people, as the nation faced a "state of emergency," largely prompted by legislative sabotage and budget cuts by the opposition party, which holds an overwhelming majority in parliament.

He argued that he'd kept Cabinet procedures required to declare martial law, and outlined global uncertainties that require executive attention.

Yoon said if he were to resume his duties, he would pursue political reform and effective governance through Constitutional amendments.

Still, the leader apologized for the confusion and inconvenience caused by his martial law decree.

This comes as the ruling People Power Party endorse Constitutional revision to shorten the five-year presidential term, as removing Yoon from office would prompt a snap election, which would favor the opposition party.

If Yoon is not impeached, he would resume his duties immediately with his term ending in May 2027.

National Assembly impeachment panel co-chair Jung Chung-rae said in his closing statement, that the public has already rejected Yoon,.. and urged the Court to uphold impeachment.

"President Yoon took the oath of office to uphold the Constitution and defend the nation, yet he sent martial law troops to invade the National Assembly and trampled on the Constitution The respondent no longer has the qualifications to remain as president. He is no longer the president in the hearts of the people."

During the two hours assigned to each legal team, the Assembly's panel also emphasized its grounds for impeaching the leader, arguing his martial law order was illegal and unconstitutional in both procedure and substance.

Yoon's lawyers meanwhile continued to defend its legitimacy and legality, arguing that the alleged orders to drag out lawmakers from the National Assembly and arrest high-profile figures had not been given nor implemented.

With the hearings concluded the impeachment trial is now entering its final phase.

For now, the Constitutional Court is likely to reveal its decision on around March 11th.

In South Korea's past two presidential impeachment trials, the ruling came eleven and fourteen days after the final hearings.

But, one variable that could affect the timeline is the Court's verdict on Thursday, on a dispute case over Acting President Choi Sang-mok's decision not to appoint left-leaning judge Ma Eun-hyuk as a Constitutional Court justice.

If the Court upholds the jurisdictional dispute and Ma joins the bench, the Court will have to decide whether Ma would also deliberate on President Yoon's impeachment case.

This could require more time for consideration, especially as Yoon's side might request a retrial process for the new justice to review and familiarize himself with the trial pushing back the date of the ruling.

Oh Soo-young, Arirang News.