President Yoon Suk Yeol attends a hearing for his impeachment trial at the Constitutional Court in Seoul on Thursday. (Yonhap)
President Yoon Suk Yeol attends a hearing for his impeachment trial at the Constitutional Court in Seoul on Thursday. (Yonhap)

Impeached President Yoon Suk Yeol sent a Lunar New Year message to the people from a detention center through his lawyer Friday.

"I hope this year will be a better year than last year. As the Lunar New Year approaches, I find myself thinking a lot about the people in the nation," Yoon was quoted as saying by his lawyer, Yun Gap-geun.

Yoon is currently detained at the Seoul Detention Center in Uiwang, south of Seoul, as he faces insurrection and abuse of power charges related to his short-lived martial law declaration on Dec. 3. He has been restricted from directly sending letters.

Yoon, whose duties have been suspended since his impeachment on Dec. 14, said he feels regret for not being able to be around the people and help those in need.

"I hope that you will look after those around you who are facing difficulties, and everyone will have a warm and joyful holiday," he said.

This year's Lunar New Year holiday was extended to six days after the government designated Monday as a temporary national holiday. (Yonhap)