S. Korean president to express position in court if hearings are held

SEOUL - Impeached South Korean President Yoon Suk-yeol will express his position in court when public hearings are held, Yonhap news agency said Tuesday citing Yoon's legal defense counsel.

The counsel was quoted as saying that when public hearings are held, Yoon will confidently make himself heard in court, indicating Yoon will appear at the constitutional court's impeachment trial when the hearings begin.

The constitutional court planned to hold the first preliminary hearing on the impeachment on Dec 27.

From Yoon's point of view, he was not worried about the insurrection charge at all in legal terms, but the counsel would respond to the ongoing criminal investigations, according to the counsel.

Yoon said in his televised address on Dec 12 that his martial law imposition was an "act of governance" to protect against the "legislative dictatorship" of the majority opposition.

Yoon's defense counsel will be formed separately for the criminal investigation and the impeachment trial.

The counsel was quoted as saying that it is hard to tell whether Yoon will appear at the prosecutors' office for questioning on Dec 21, adding that it will announce its position on the summons within a few days.

Yoon was named by investigative agencies as a suspect on a rebellion charge following his martial law imposition on the night of Dec 3 which was revoked by the National Assembly hours later.

The second motion to impeach Yoon was passed through the National Assembly on Dec 14 and was delivered to the constitutional court to deliberate it for up to 180 days, during which Yoon's presidential power will be suspended.