Embattled president rallies young conservatives to influence trial

By Jung Da-hyun

President Yoon Suk Yeol's attorneys announced plans to form a team of young conservatives, hoping to rally other members of the younger generation to support the embattled leader's defense. The move has sparked criticism, with opponents arguing that it is an attempt to gather support ahead of his trial on insurrection charges for declaring martial law late last year.

A preparatory meeting was held Saturday for the so-called "citizen defense team." While the team has no official legal standing, its main focus is to engage young people in their 20s and 30s. It remains unclear exactly how the team will be used to affect the trial.

Seok Dong-hyeon, one of Yoon's legal counsels, said the group will consist of ordinary citizens rather than lawyers, with plans to officially launch it by mid-February.

"(In the impeachment ruling) public opinion is extremely important. If Constitutional Court judges see that public sentiment does not support removing the president through impeachment, it will have an impact," he said, explaining the rationale behind the group.

Seok has been an active speaker at rallies supporting Yoon, held near the presidential residence in central Seoul and Seoul Detention Center in Uiwang, Gyeonggi Province, calling on supporters to take action.

During the meeting, Seok defended the military's mobilization on Dec. 3, arguing that it was not an uprising but an essential function of martial law, emphasizing that there was no bloodshed or injuries.

Regarding the martial law troops' forced entry into the National Assembly, which shocked the public, he claimed that breaking windows was unavoidable, as all access points had been blocked.

But the initiative faces mounting criticism, as the team holds no legal authority and seems focused primarily on rallying supporters.

"This is a strategy to shield Yoon by continuously asserting that the declaration of the failed martial law was justified and resisting his impeachment," said Choi Chang-ryul, a political science professor at Yong In University.

Choi also criticized statements from Yoon's legal team appearing to challenge the legitimacy of the judicial system, and emphasized that the Constitutional Court operates within a strictly established legal framework.

This is not the first time that supporters of the embattled leader have sought to rally young conservatives.

Earlier this year, Rep. Kim Min-jeon of the ruling People Power Party (PPP) faced criticism for supporting a controversial civic group called the "anti-communist youth group," an organization made up of members in their 20s and 30s who pledged to prevent investigators from detaining the president for questioning before his indictment.