Supporters in tow, legal battles loom... Yoon prepares for impeachment instead of resignation

Yoon Likely Deemed 'Impeachment Better' Than Voluntary Resignation
Kim Yong-hyun Detained... Investigation Closing in on President
Defense Team Being Formed... Legal Preparations Intensify

President Yoon Suk-yeol is delivering a national address at the Yongsan Presidential Office building in Seoul on the 7th. Photo by Yonhap News

President Yoon Suk-yeol is reportedly determined to stay in office until the end, even if he faces impeachment, rather than resigning voluntarily, signaling that a full-scale legal battle is expected to unfold. President Yoon has already begun assembling a legal defense team in preparation for impeachment and investigations, and is reportedly preparing countermeasures for upcoming forced investigations such as searches and arrests.

According to political circles on the 11th, President Yoon recently started exploring the formation of a legal defense team and other legal responses. After being registered as a suspect on charges including rebellion, a travel ban was immediately imposed, and with the detention of former Defense Minister Kim Yong-hyun, a key instigator, it is interpreted that a legal dispute has become inevitable.

In particular, President Yoon is said to prefer legal responses through the Constitutional Court during a suspension of duties following the passage of the impeachment motion in the National Assembly, rather than the ruling party’s proposal for a voluntary resignation in February or March. Since he does not acknowledge fault, claiming the declaration of martial law was due to the opposition party’s violent actions, the possibility of voluntary resignation is considered low.

The legal defense team is reportedly being formed with former Broadcasting and Communications Commission Chairman Kim Hong-il, who has a close relationship with President Yoon from their time as prosecutors, some lawyers from the Presidential Office, and law firms based in Seocho-dong. Previously, former President Park Geun-hye, who was impeached over the 'state manipulation' scandal, initially formed a legal team of about four lawyers before gradually expanding it ahead of the special prosecutor’s investigation. Similarly, President Yoon may reinforce his legal team depending on the progress of the investigation.

As the investigation narrows in on President Yoon, the highest authority in the 'martial law incident,' the atmosphere at the Yongsan Presidential Office is rapidly freezing. Since the prosecution effectively named President Yoon as the ringleader of the rebellion in the detention warrant request for former Minister Kim, it is anticipated that searches of the presidential residence and office or summons of President Yoon will soon be unavoidable.

Ahead of the National Assembly's re-vote on President Yoon Suk-yeol's impeachment scheduled for the 14th, a wreath supporting the president is placed along the wall on the path leading to the main gate of the Presidential Office in Yongsan-gu, Seoul on the 11th. Photo by Kang Jin-hyung

However, many assessments suggest that a search of the president’s office would not be easy. Under the Criminal Procedure Act, 'places requiring military secrets cannot be searched or seized without the consent of the person responsible,' and the president’s office and residence contain many sensitive military and diplomatic secrets, which may fall under this provision.

Although President Yoon stated, "I will not evade legal or political responsibility related to this martial law declaration," the likelihood of complying with forced investigations is low. In the past, several presidents have been subjects of investigations, but investigative agencies have never succeeded in searching the presidential office premises. Especially since President Yoon is accused of rebellion, which carries the death penalty, cooperation with the investigation is expected to be even more difficult.

There is also a high possibility that investigative agencies will seek to secure President Yoon’s custody. However, since the impeachment motion has not yet passed the National Assembly plenary session, it is difficult to predict whether the prosecution and police will proceed with arrest or summons of a sitting president. As with former President Park’s impeachment, there is a possibility of increased division between President Yoon’s supporters and citizens in favor of impeachment. On the morning of the same day, about 40 wreaths supporting President Yoon were placed in front of the Yongsan Presidential Office.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.