The opposition's "disrespectful" refusal to applaud or shake his hand "exposed their plans to destroy the government", claims Yoon Suk-Yeol in the Constitutional Court.
No matter how much they dislike me, it's a fundamental principle for dialogue and compromise that they listen to me and applaud my budget speech in parliament, says the 64-year-old former prosecutor in court.
They didn't even enter the chamber, I was forced to speak to a half-empty parliament.
Political Chaos
It was thus the opposition's behavior that triggered the decision to declare a state of emergency with accompanying martial law on December 3, claims Yoon.
The measure, allegedly to protect the country from "communist forces", triggered political chaos in South Korea. This despite the parliament voting to invalidate the state of emergency just hours later.
Ten days later, conservative Yoon was stripped of presidential power, as the parliament voted to put him on trial.
Barricaded Himself
The impeachment trial is, however, only one of several legal cases ongoing. At the end of January, Yoon was charged with leading an attempt to stage a coup, a crime that can lead to imprisonment or death penalty. This occurred after he was arrested in a large police operation, which took place when Yoon refused to appear before investigators and instead barricaded himself in the presidential palace.
The turmoil surrounding Yoon has stirred strong emotions in South Korea. On Seoul's streets, supporters are chanting demands for his release.
The Constitutional Court is expected to hold its final hearings on Thursday before the judges vote on the impeachment issue, i.e., decide whether the national assembly had grounds to remove the president or if its decision should be overturned.
