Ousted president Yoon Suk Yeol, on Tuesday (Jan 25), said that South Korea was facing an "existential crisis" when he declared martial law as he faced the final day of impeachment hearings that could formally remove him from office.

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In his concluding remarks, Yoon justified the December 3 declaration, characterising it as a "proclamation that the nation was facing an existential crisis".

"This was never a decision made for my personal benefit as Yoon Suk Yeol," he told the court.

He said "external forces, including North Korea, along with anti-state elements within our society" were "working together to seriously threaten our national security and sovereignty".

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He further denied committing "insurrection" in declaring martial law.

"The opposition party claims that I declared martial law to establish a dictatorship and extend my rule. This is a fabricated scheme to frame me for insurrection," Yoon told the court.

Also read: Criminal trial against South Korea's ousted President Yoon Suk Yeol begins in Seoul

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'Countless would not have had their lives spared'

Opposition lawmaker Jung Chung-rae delivered an emotional closing statement, urging the court to uphold President Yoon's impeachment. Chung-rae's plea was deeply personal, as he recalled the torture he endured at the hands of South Korea's military government in the 1980s.

"Blindfolded with my underwear, I endured four hours of torture. Being alive was pain in itself," Lee said, stopping for a few seconds to compose himself.

He urged the court to consider that "countless people would not have had their lives spared" if martial law had succeeded as Yoon had planned.

What happens if Yoon is impeached?

The stakes are high—if the court upholds the impeachment, Yoon will be permanently removed from office, triggering a fresh presidential election within 60 days.

On December 3, Yoon, in a dramatic move, temporarily suspended civilian rule, plunging the nation into political chaos. The declaration of martial law was short-lived, lasting only six hours, as opposition lawmakers defied military presence outside parliament to vote it down. This led to Yoon's impeachment and eventual arrest in January on charges of insurrection—making him the first sitting South Korean president to face such charges.

(With inputs from agencies)