Seoul: The state human rights watchdog began a meeting Monday to discuss whether to adopt a recommendation to guarantee President Yoon Suk Yeol’s right to defense during his impeachment trial at the Constitutional Court.
According to Yonhap News Agency, the National Human Rights Commission of Korea (NHRCK) convened its plenary meeting on the issue amid growing demand among Yoon’s supporters that the impeached president should be guaranteed a fair trial at the Constitutional Court.
The meeting was prompted by an NHRCK standing commissioner’s proposal to recommend ensuring Yoon’s right to defense, as part of efforts to address the national crisis triggered by his short-lived martial law declaration on December 3 of the previous year. However, past attempts to discuss the proposal on January 13 and 20 were thwarted by strong protests from supporters of liberal opposition parties.
Earlier on Monday, pro-Yoon demonstrators attempted to enter the NHRCK building in central Seoul to block protesters opposing the proposed recommendation. The situation was eventually diffused after police intervention.
The crux of the debate revolves around Yoon’s supporters urging the commission to adopt the recommendation in his favor, while opposition parties and their supporters stand firmly against it.
In a show of political involvement, lawmakers from both ruling and opposition parties visited the commission ahead of the meeting to express their views on the agenda.