Yoon marks low-key birthday as he prepares for impeachment trial

By Im Yoon-seo Posted : December 19, 2024, 15:32 Updated : December 19, 2024, 15:38
Pedestrian walk past flowers supporting President Yoon Suk Yeol outside the Constitutional Court of Korea in Jongno, Seoul on Dec. 19, 2024. Yonhap
SEOUL, December 19 (AJP) - President Yoon Suk Yeol quietly marked his 64th birthday on Wednesday without any official schedules or festivities. His low-key birthday came amid his suspension from presidential duties after a motion to impeach him over his abrupt declaration of martial law was passed last week.

But the presidential office in Yongsan received over 2,000 letters congratulating Yoon on his birthday, and some of his die-hard supporters also sent flowers to the Constitutional Court of Korea.

As he remained hunkered down at his official residence in Hannam-dong, central Seoul, Yoon has reportedly been gearing up for his defense as the court prepares for his impeachment trial, with the first public hearing slated for Dec. 27.

But the court said that documents related to the trial, which were sent to Yoon earlier this week, were returned undelivered. It is also awaiting a response from Yoon, along with documents related to his botched martial law attempt on Dec. 3 including minutes of Cabinet meetings, which it had requested earlier.
 
President Yoon Suk Yeol's lawyer Seok Dong-hyun (center) talks to reporters at the Seoul High Prosecutors' Office in southern Seoul on Dec. 19, 2024. Yonhap
Meanwhile, Seok Dong-hyun, a lawyer representing Yoon, said on Thursday that his longtime friend maintains a firm stance that the Dec. 3 declaration of martial law does not constitute charges of "treason" or "insurrection."

"How could there be a treasonous action that comes with prior notice and stops just a few hours later when the National Assembly says to do so?" he asked.

He also claimed that Yoon never ordered the arrest of several lawmakers, which contradicts testimonies from military officials involved in the overnight attempt.

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