[Editorial] The information of Yoon’s revolt are clear — justice can’t be additional delayed

After concluding his investigation, the particular counsel main the probe into former president Yoon Suk-yeol’s short-lived martial legislation declaration on Dec. 3, 2024, mentioned the tried revolt was primarily based on conspiracy theories about rigged elections and designed to dissolve the Nationwide Meeting and revise the Structure in order that Yoon may stay in energy.

That might quantity to treason on the size of the army coup on Dec. 12, 1979, when Chun Doo-hwan and Roh Tae-woo mobilized the military to grab energy and neutralize the Nationwide Meeting so they might place themselves for long-term rule over the nation. Whereas Yoon was impeached for his anachronistic martial legislation declaration, there are nonetheless many, together with the leaders of the principle opposition Folks Energy Social gathering (PPP), who deny that his actions amounted to an revolt.

These claims solely maintain water so long as Yoon has not confronted judicial punishment. Now that the particular counsel has concluded his investigation, Korea’s courts ought to do their greatest to expedite the trials and swiftly conclude our reckoning with the revolt.

As a part of his investigation findings, particular counsel Cho Eun-seok mentioned Monday that Yoon’s martial legislation declaration amounted to a violent try and subvert the Structure with the purpose of eliminating his political opponents and monopolizing energy. Yoon justified the martial legislation declaration after the very fact by citing the “legislative tyranny” and “impeachment spree” of the Democratic Social gathering, which was the highest opposition occasion on the time, however the particular counsel concluded that these have been simply excuses.

Yoon, who had been getting ready for martial legislation since October 2023, initially launched drone incursions into Pyongyang with the aim of scary an armed provocation by North Korea. However when that failed, he pivoted to focusing on his political opponents. These opponents included not solely the opposition occasion itself however Han Dong-hoon, head of the PPP and a long-time affiliate of Yoon’s within the prosecution service that the president had personally appointed to function justice minister.

Yoon labeled Han a “commie” and through a dinner with army commanders blustered that Han needs to be “introduced in” and mentioned he would “shoot him lifeless.” Such habits is paying homage to the vicious and tyrannical kings of bygone eras.

What would have turn into of Korea if Yoon had managed to complete out his presidency? The prospect is just too horrible to even ponder.

Following the particular counsel’s announcement of the investigation’s outcomes, Koreans have been enraged to find out how former Prime Minister Han Duck-soo and different Cupboard members betrayed their constitutional duties. Regardless of their lengthy careers within the authorities, these bureaucrats didn’t attempt to withstand or cease Yoon as they noticed the constitutional order being torn aside. If something, video footage exhibits them docilely receiving his orders.

Related habits was noticed from Rep. Choo Kyung-ho and different PPP leaders. One can’t assist asking whether or not these politicians — who’re ostensibly accountable for preserving the Structure and folks’s elementary rights — even care about preserving democracy.

That’s why it’s laborious to fathom why the courts have refused to difficulty pre-trial detention warrants for Han, Choo and former Justice Minister Park Sung-jae.

Supreme Court docket Chief Justice Jo Hee-de has refused to step in whereas Choose Jee Kui-youn bizarrely ordered the discharge of Yoon, the ringleader of the entire revolt, earlier this yr and is now dealing with the trial so poorly that we nonetheless haven’t gotten a verdict.

The glacial tempo of justice by the courts has allowed PPP leaders and far-right teams underneath the banner of “Yoon Once more” to misrepresent the particular counsel’s investigation as a “witch hunt.”

That’s why, a full yr later, we nonetheless haven’t escaped from the shadow of the revolt.

How can Korea’s judicial department — which prides itself on being the “final bastion of democracy” — merely ignore the present state of affairs? It’s time that Jo’s judiciary fulfilled its duties as a coequal department of presidency.

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