Sangcheol’s Legal Journal : YouLaw Insights

🔍 Trial Overview Date : Monday, May 19, 2025 – 10:15 AM Courtroom : Criminal Division 25, Seoul Central District Court (Presiding Judge: JI Gui-yeon) Participants : Defendant: Yoon Suk-yeol, former President of South Korea Witnesses: Brigadier General Park Jeong-hwan (Chief of Staff, Army Special Warfare Command) Brigadier General Lee Sang-hyun (Commander, 1st Airborne Brigade) (Scheduled, not examined on this date) 🧾 Main Proceedings ✅ A. Continued Testimony by Brigadier General Park Jeong-hwan Described real-time observation of Gen. Gwak Jong-geun (former Commander of the Special Warfare Command) taking a call from a superior and replying, “We’ll break the door and go in.” Ordered troops to secure the National Assembly , following repeated urgent calls even after deployment had begun. Helicopter insertion began at 11:08 PM on Dec 3, 2024. Orders such as “Break the windows,” “Pull the lawmakers out,” “Stop the vote” were conveyed by Gen....

Hello everyone, Today’s post brings a critical update on one of the most closely watched legal proceedings in South Korea – the ongoing trial of former President Yoon Suk-yeol . On May 12, 2025 , the 3rd trial session was held at the Seoul Central District Court , attracting public and media attention due to newly revealed military testimonies that could significantly influence the outcome of the case. Let’s dive into what happened during this key session – including damaging witness statements , the defense’s reaction , and what we can expect in the next round. ⚖️ Trial Overview Date: May 12, 2025 (Monday), 10:15 AM Location: Seoul Central District Court, Criminal Division 25 (Judge Ji Gui-yeon), Room 417 Key Participants: Defendant: Former President Yoon Suk-yeol Witnesses: Captain Oh Sang-bae (former aide to the Commander of the Capital Defense Command) Brigadier General Park Jeong-hwan (Chief of Staff, Special Warfare Command) 🗣️ Testimony 1...

Can Former President Yoon Suk-yeol Run Again? Legal Barriers and Political Symbolism Explained In early April 2025, a political phrase began circulating at conservative rallies across South Korea: “YOON AGAIN.” This slogan, simple yet provocative, alludes to the idea of former President Yoon Suk-yeol making a comeback and running in the next presidential election. Originating from a prison letter written by former Minister of National Defense Kim Yong-hyun, the phrase has quickly gained traction among conservative circles both on the streets and online forums. But a crucial legal question arises: Is it even constitutionally possible for Yoon Suk-yeol to run for president again? The Symbolism Behind “YOON AGAIN” The slogan was first introduced through a handwritten letter by Kim Yong-hyun, who called for a political revival of Yoon, praising his firm stance on North Korea and legal reform efforts during his tenure. Supporters have since embraced “YOON AGAIN” as more than a slogan ...

Hello everyone! 👋 Today’s blog post covers an extraordinary moment in Korean constitutional history.  On April 4, 2025 , the Constitutional Court of Korea issued a landmark ruling: the dismissal of President Yoon Suk-yeol from office. Let’s explore what happened, why it happened, and what this means for democracy in Korea. 🧭 Background of the Case The impeachment process began after President Yoon declared martial law on December 3, 2024 , citing national paralysis due to opposition party actions and threats from North Korea. The declaration was made through a live national broadcast and included assigning a military general as the martial law commander. However, within hours, the National Assembly voted unanimously (190/190) to revoke the martial law. On December 4, President Yoon announced the termination of the martial law . Despite this retraction, political and legal responses escalated. A second impeachment motion was proposed and passed on December 14 with 204 ...

  A Judicial Precedent Under Scrutiny The recent decision by a South Korean court to cancel President Yoon Suk-yeol’s detention and release him has triggered intense public debate. However, what has fueled even greater controversy is the prosecution's choice to forgo an immediate appeal. The Special Investigation Unit (SIU) of the prosecution advocated for an appeal, but the Supreme Prosecutors’ Office overruled it, leading to Yoon’s release. Was this prosecutorial decision justified? This event raises serious questions about the independence of the prosecution and its legal standards. A Unprecedented Legal Shift: Court’s Decision to Cancel Detention The court’s decision significantly deviated from existing legal precedents. It adopted an unusual approach to calculating the detention period, using an ‘hour’ basis instead of the conventional ‘day’ standard. Specifically, the court ruled that the time spent in the pre-detention hearing should be excluded from the detention durat...

Overview of the Hearing Date: February 25, 2025, 2:00 PM Location: Constitutional Court, Supreme Court Hall Participants: National Assembly representatives, President Yoon Suk-yeol's defense team, President Yoon Suk-yeol The 11th and final hearing of the impeachment trial for South Korean President Yoon Suk-yeol took place on February 25, 2025. President Yoon delivered his closing statement for 67 minutes, defending the necessity of martial law and addressing allegations of election fraud. The National Assembly representatives countered with strong accusations of constitutional violations and attempted subversion of the democratic republic. Key Arguments Presented A. President Yoon Suk-yeol's Closing Statement 1. Justification of Martial Law President Yoon argued that the "martial law declared on December 3 was fundamentally different from past examples," emphasizing it was a "plea to the public" rather than an oppressive military measure. He...