Yoon Impeachment 'Final Argument' Presidential Side: "Inevitable Choice Against Opposition's Legislative Violence" (Comprehensive)

In the final argument of President Yoon Seok-yeol's impeachment trial, the president's legal team stated that the president's declaration of martial law was an inevitable choice in response to the opposition party's obstruction of policies and legislative violence.

Acting Chief Justice Moon Hyung-bae of the Constitutional Court and constitutional justices are seated at the 11th hearing of the presidential impeachment trial held on the afternoon of the 25th at the Grand Bench of the Constitutional Court in Jaedong, Jongno-gu, Seoul. 2025.02.25 Photo by Joint Press Corps

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Attorney Lee Dong-chan argued at the Constitutional Court's grand bench on the 25th that the president's martial law was due to the opposition party's violence, stating, "The situation caused by the opposition party cannot be said to be anything other than a national emergency."

He added, "On December 3rd, the cabinet members were worried and silent, but they could not persuade the president by other means," explaining that the president decided to declare martial law in accordance with Article 66, Paragraph 2 of the Constitution.

Attorney Kim Gye-ri claimed that the Democratic Party's frequent impeachment motions and security threats were the background for the declaration of martial law. Kim said, "(President Yoon) declared martial law to inform the public about the current situation regarding the one-party dictatorship and fascist acts," adding, "The Democratic Party did not stop and even impeached Prosecutor Choi Dae-hoon and Audit Chief Choi Jae-hae."

Regarding allegations of orders to arrest politicians, he added that the arrest rumors surfaced because it seemed unlikely that President Yoon's impeachment would proceed easily. He mentioned that he was enlightened himself, stating, "After reading the statement following the martial law, I confirmed the Democratic Party's atrocities and one-party dictatorship, which I was unaware of due to pregnancy, childbirth, and childcare, and decided to participate in the defense."

On that day, Attorney Kim also presented video evidence during the testimony summary showing Democratic Party leader Lee Jae-myung and National Assembly Speaker Woo Won-shik crossing the fence during the martial law period. Kim explained, "It was a scene of crossing alone when no one else was around," clarifying that access to the National Assembly was not blocked at that time. He also claimed that some opposition lawmakers from the Democratic Party and the Innovation Party had prior convictions for violating the National Security Act.

Furthermore, Attorney Cha Ki-hwan pointed to the so-called "hybrid war" as a national security threat, stating, "In such a situation, with the judiciary's functions paralyzed due to the opposition's frequent impeachment motions and legislative dictatorship by the National Assembly, the president judged it to be a national emergency."

The election fraud theory, which President Yoon's side has consistently argued, also resurfaced. Attorney Do Tae-woo referenced the Supreme Court ruling that there was no possibility of election fraud, saying, "We must keep in mind that the Supreme Court ruling did not conduct sufficient fact-finding and computer verification," emphasizing, "The Central Election Commission has never been checked or supervised by all three branches of government: the judiciary, legislature, and executive."

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