Yoon Conveys Message from Prison, Expresses Concern for Mrs. Kim's Health... "Worried About the Country's Future"

President Yoon Suk-yeol closed his eyes while attending the 4th impeachment trial hearing held at the Constitutional Court in Jongno-gu, Seoul on the 23rd. Photo by Yonhap News

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President Yoon Seok-yeol, who was arrested and indicted under martial law, continued his prison politics, saying, "Above all, I am worried about the future of the country." This is interpreted as an intention to gain a more advantageous position in the public opinion battle by rallying his support base. As the Constitutional Court impeachment trial and criminal trial procedures have begun in earnest, President Yoon's side is expected to deliberate on response measures during the Lunar New Year holiday.

On the 28th, Yoon's lawyer Seok Dong-hyun, who visited President Yoon at Seoul Detention Center, conveyed the president's message from prison. According to lawyer Seok, President Yoon, without mentioning his own hardships, said, "Among the people, many find it difficult to get through each day, and I worry about how hard the cold and livelihood must be. I am also concerned that the youth and future generations, who need to nurture their dreams, might be discouraged by reality."

In particular, President Yoon mentioned that the health condition of his wife, Kim Geon-hee, has not been very good recently, saying, "Since leaving the official residence, I have not been able to see her even once, so I am somewhat worried about her health."

President Yoon also reiterated the legitimacy of the martial law. According to lawyer Seok, Yoon stated, "I judged, as president, that the country was in crisis due to dictatorship by the National Assembly dominated by the major opposition party, and I declared martial law under constitutional authority to inform and appeal to the sovereign people about the crisis. When the National Assembly requested the lifting of martial law in the manner prescribed by the Constitution, I immediately lifted it. Everything was done within the framework of the Constitution."

He added, "If we were to maintain martial law, there should have been a political program on how to operate the administration and judiciary under martial law, but no such program was ever prepared or actually existed, right? Even when deciding and ordering the declaration of martial law, we anticipated that the National Assembly would immediately demand its lifting once declared." This aligns with the previous claim that martial law was intended as a 'warning' from the beginning.

President Yoon Suk-yeol is speaking at his fourth impeachment trial hearing held at the Constitutional Court in Jongno-gu, Seoul, on the 23rd. Photo by Yonhap News

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Since his arrest, President Yoon has continuously engaged in prison politics. Before and after his arrest, he released video messages with a smile and a handwritten statement of about 9,000 characters, and has been issuing messages successively through Facebook and his legal team. He also appeared in person at the Constitutional Court impeachment trial hearing to argue his case.

This appears to be an effort to consolidate his support base by asserting his innocence while attacking the opposition party. In the Constitutional Court impeachment trial, President Yoon claimed, "The reason for declaring martial law was not only a warning to the opposition party but also an appeal to the sovereign people to strictly monitor and criticize." He aims to maintain his political assets and support by portraying himself as a figure who "fights to the end against anti-state forces."

In fact, recent public opinion polls have shown a rise in ruling party support, indicating some effect. Accordingly, the People Power Party is also working hard to support President Yoon. Park Soo-min, the party's floor spokesperson, said in a statement that day, "There is growing public concern about certain research group members being concentrated in the Constitutional Court," and launched a 'shaking the Constitutional Court' campaign ahead of the impeachment trial.

The Blue House also criticized the prosecution on the 26th for indicting President Yoon on charges of leading a rebellion, calling it "illegal and irregular." A senior Blue House official said, "It is deeply regrettable and heartbreaking that the president elected by the people, still the head of state of the Republic of Korea, has been illegally and irregularly arrested and indicted."

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