The audiences of the trial ends end up as support for the Korean leader S. increases surprisingly

SEUL: The Constitutional Court of South Korea organized on Tuesday (the last meeting in the process of action of President Yoon Suk-Yel, on Tuesday (February 25), with the wide-scale verdict to be announced in two weeks.

The process, which started at 2:00 pm, lasted almost 8 and a half hours, because both the National Assembly and Yoon’s legal teams presented the final arguments, Yoon allowed a final statement without a time limit.

Device at court about six hours after the start of the session, Yoon, bearing his characteristic blue blue suit, insisted that his martial law statement on December 3, 2024, was “completely different” by the martial law decrees of the past, which ” they evoked negative memories of the past ”.

“It was not an attempt to suppress people with force, but by a desperate appeal to people who use the form of martial law,” he said, urging judges to carefully consider the facts of the case and to name the accusation “a political plan by opposition to overthrow a democratic president ”.

Yoon repeated his previous accusations that the National Assembly dominated by the opposition paralyzed the government by blocking the policy reforms, imposed high-ranking officials and worked against national security by reducing budgets and sabotaging key national defense projects.

He ended his final 67-minute statement with a promise to focus on constitutional reforms and foreign policy, if he will be allowed to return and leave internal problems to the prime minister.

The National Assembly, which acts as prosecutors in the process of accusation, accuses Yoon of violating the Constitution by appealing the martial law, a decree that is reserved for national emergency or time.

Yoon is also accused of sending troops to block access to the National Assembly so that parliamentarians cannot vote to revoke the decree and send an arrest team to go after political rivals, such as opposition leader, Lee Jae-Myung.

Also, the president is accused of attacking the offices of the national electoral commission for the suspicion of electoral fraud.

South Korean parliamentarians, some of whom have warmed the walls in an attempt to enter the reasons of the National Assembly, have successfully voted to repeal the martial law two hours after Yoon’s abrupt statement.

The beaten leader, who was in detention since his arrest on January 15, under separate criminal charges, denied the blocking of the access to the National Assembly and tried to arrest his political rivals.

He recognized in a previous hearing on February 4 in ordering an attack on the electoral offices, claiming that the attack was justified and that “nothing happened” as a result of the movement.

The eight judges of the Constitutional Court must last about two weeks, or until March 11, to deliberate their conclusions, even if, from a technical point of view, they have 180 days on the day that the case was submitted on December 14 , that is, until mid -June, until you make a final decision.

For comparison, the Court took 14 days to decide to accuse former President Roh Moo-Hyun in 2004 and 11 days for former President Park Geun-Hye in 2017.

Based on the constitutional law of South Korea, an action imposes at least six judges in the eight members to vote in favor of it.

The process of accusation ends in a moment when the public support for the removal of Yoon observes a change.

Unlike a survey conducted by the national broadcaster KBS in early 2025, which registered over 70 percent of 1,000 respondents supporting the accusation, recent polls showed support for it.

The results of a Gallup Korea survey of 1,000 respondents released on February 21 showed public support for 60 %, with 34 % opposite.

A drag survey, whose results were launched on February 24, showed that of the 1,000 respondents questioned, 52 % supported the accusation, while 45.1 percent wanted to be rejected.

On February 22, on the weekend before the final trial meeting, protests were held for and against the accusation in South Korea.

In Seoul, about 30,000 Yoon supporters were rally in the Gwanghwamun area, while meters away, outside the Gyeongbugung Palace and the Constitutional Court, about 20,000 protesters were rally for the accusation to be respected.

Local media reported that pro-Yoon rallies have been organized in other cities such as Daejeon, Daegu and Fincheon.

On February 25, about 5,000 Yoon supporters gathered outside the court to request the accusation invalidation.

The analysts told The Straits Times that the public opinion needle has changed in favor of Yoon, while the process ends and the prospect of an unfavorable new leader from the rapid presidential elections – which must be called within 60 days if it is Respected of the accusation – Looms – Looms Great.

“For external observers, it may seem like the process refers only to Yoon and his fate. However, the real problem is what comes after his removal, ”said Dr. Lee Seong-Hyon, a senior colleague at the George HW Bush Foundation for US-China Relations.

Among the conservatives and moderate, the realization is sinking by the fact that the Liberal leader of the opposition, Lee, who lost a restricted to Yoon in the 2022 elections, has a good chance to be the next leader of the country.

Ahng Byong-Jin, the politician of Kyung Hee University, said: “Initially, it was a problem of accusing Yoon. But the political land has changed since then. Now is a matter of who will win the presidential election. People begin to think: “Oh, my goodness, I don’t like him (Lee). I do not want to be president, “so he is looking for a way to say this.”

Lee, a controversial figure, which has been charged for bribery and other criminal charges, is currently attractive against a conviction for violating the electoral law and can be disqualified if the conviction is confirmed by the Supreme Court at the end of June.

“For Swing voters, it is not a matter of ideology, but a problem in who I can trust as the next leader,” said Professor AHN.

The division between conservative and liberal camps is also plays a role in the influence of public opinion, with ultra-conservative conspiracy theories that look like the April 2024 elections have been equipped and that there are Chinese interference in South Korea policy.

The Chinese ambassador to South Korea, Dai Bing, rejected the accusations in a position on X on February 10, obeying China with the “unjustified connection” with the internal problems of South Korea “for no reason”.

Political polarization is probably part of Yoon’s gambit when he declared the martial law, said Prof. Ahn.

“It was probably thinking that although the martial law could be too much at first for people to take, over time, people will come to accept their argument, because there is so much political polarization, (and) they will He came to see Lee as the bastard. “

He did not help the opposition that they had exceeded the hand following the National Assembly Movement to accuse Yoon on December 14th.

The quick profit of the Prime Minister at that time Han Duck-Soo on December 27 was probably the inclination point that made the swing voters change, said Prof. AHN.

“Swing voters prefer stability. So, while the Opposition Democratic Party (DP) had reasons to accuse Han, from a political point of view, it was not a crushed move, “he said.

The Prime Minister and the Minister of Finance, Choi Sang-Mok, has since participated as interim president, but the leading vacuum has affected.

Tests to involve the Trump 2.0 administration in Washington have so far reached nothing, which could be unpleasant as South Korea is preparing to host the Asian-Pacific economic cooperation meetings.

The economic forecast in Seoul was successful, the Bank of Korea reduced the interest rates by 25 basic points and decreased the growth forecast of gross domestic products from 1.9 % to 1.5 % to February 25.

Dr. Lee said that the public feeling has probably changed that the fatigue established over the extended political uncertainty.

“The country endured the martial law, action votes and mass protests, leaving many citizens who want normality. This exhaustion has contributed to decreasing the support of action, ”he said.

But despite the slide in support of the accusation, both Prof. Ahn and Dr. Lee do not think the result will change.

Dr. Lee said: “Finally, the process of accusation in South Korea emphasizes the fragility of democratic norms in deeply polarized societies. While Yoon’s challenge has energized the base, the previous historical and the weight of the legal evidence suggests that his presidency will end in removal. “

As for Prof. AHN, the action is a certainty.

“The political punctures in this country, we don’t even take care of the final verdict. We are already looking at the presidential elections that will follow. ” – The Straits Times/Ann