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Former President Yoon Suk-yeol arrives at the Seoul Central District Court on April 14, 2025, for the first hearing in his insurrection trial. (pool photo)

During the first hearing in his trial on insurrection charges, former President Yoon Suk-yeol said that his abrupt declaration of martial law last December was a “peaceful message to the nation.” 

“To classify a nonviolent incident that lasted a few hours as an insurrection is completely contrary to legal principles,” he argued.  

On the night of Dec. 3, the people saw special forces troops break into the National Assembly, acting on Yoon’s orders. The Constitutional Court and the National Assembly inquiry revealed the violent acts committed with the intention of disrupting the constitutional order. To call what happened that night “peaceful” is to gaslight the Korean public about what they saw with their own eyes.  

The arguments Yoon made while denying all the charges against him defied all logic. 

“I’ve never even imagined using our troops to establish a military government or implement a coup d’etat,” he claimed. 

“The claim that I ordered for people to be arrested is a blatant lie,” he argued. 

“I declared martial law to defend our liberal democracy.”

These are all ludicrous statements, but the most unsightly part of Monday’s trial was when he attacked the very people who acted on his orders. 

“At the beginning [of the investigation], people who were spooked and being led by investigators made unverified claims that were then reflected in the indictment without verification or evidence,” he claimed. 

As the former commander in chief of Korea, should Yoon really be tearing down soldiers who told the truth based on their conscience? 

Even after being removed from office by a unanimous decision from the Constitutional Court, he has yet to apologize to the Korean public. Before heading to his private residence after vacating the presidential residence on April 11, he said he would “return after winning everything,” and that “five years, three years — it’s all the same,” referring to his truncated time in office.

Despite him being kicked out of office in disgrace, Yoon acted as if he were some general returning from victory. There was no hint of self-reflection or accountability regarding the pain and harm he’s inflicted on the people and the country for the past four months.

The People Power Power, which seeks to use Yoon to their own advantage, shares a great deal of responsibility for Yoon’s shameless behavior. As long as PPP hopefuls in the presidential election grovel for his approval, his shameless attitude isn’t going anywhere.

The same goes for the judicial branch, which has been particularly lenient toward Yoon. On Monday, the court allowed Yoon to use the basement parking lot and denied the press access to the courtroom. Trials for all presidents before were public and televised. Jee Kui-youn, the presiding judge for the trial, determined in a previous case that time in detention should be calculated according to hours instead of days, ordering Yoon’s release from pre-trial detention. Meanwhile, Yoon’s subordinates are being tried while behind bars. 

The court must bring this insurrectionist to justice. The public is watching.  

Please direct questions or comments to [english@hani.co.kr]