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GWACHEON, Gyeonggi Province, January 15, 2025 – Former President Yoon Seok-yeol appeared at the public Official Crimes Investigation Office today as a suspect in a treason investigation, marking a dramatic turn in a legal saga that has gripped the nation. The case, stemming from allegations of obstruction of justice and abuse of power, is nearing a critical juncture, wiht a first trial verdict anticipated in February 2026.
For over a decade, the song “I’m the best” by 2NE1 has been my annual New Year’s anthem, a defiant declaration of hope I’d play as the clock struck midnight. But this year, something felt different. The usual optimistic tracks – SES’s “Dreams Come True,” Lisa’s “Money,” and Bubble Sisters’ “Men Come Down from the Sky Like Rain” – didn’t quite resonate. I needed something that acknowledged the weight of the year past, a year defined by an exceptional legal battle.
Than, DAY6’s “It’s Finaly Ending,” released in September, surfaced on my streaming service. The lyrics – “It’s finally over. The credits roll. The main character is happy. From now on, there is no need to cry” – struck a chord. It mirrored the feeling of nearing the end of a long, complex story.
That story began in december 2024, my second year covering the legal beat, when an unprecedented situation unfolded. I witnessed former President Yoon Seok-yeol’s dismissal by the Constitutional Court on April 4, 2024, and subsequently spent an entire year documenting his trial at the Seoul Central District Court. The case involved allegations that the former president mobilized the Presidential Security Service to obstruct an arrest, leading to his initial arrest, a controversial release, and a subsequent re-arrest. He now faces eight indictments, including charges related to the handling of details concerning a Pyongyang drone and alleged pressure on the investigation into the case of Corporal Chae.
However, the conclusion of this pivotal trial – specifically, the charge of leading a rebellion – remains elusive, still four seasons away. It felt impossible to embrace a hopeful new year while this narrative remained unresolved.
The sense of closure feels within reach in 2026. The special prosecutor’s decision on sentencing for those accused of rebellion, including the former president, is scheduled for January 9. following the judgment writing process, the first trial verdict is anticipated in February.
As “It’s Finally Ending” played on January 1, 2026, the phrase “It’s finally coming to an end” echoed in my mind. And I wondered, one month later, when the “ending credits” of this political drama finally roll, what phrase will I be repeating? The song’s lyrics offer a
