South Korea: Constitutional Court to Conduct Initial Preparatory Hearing for Yoon's Impeachment on December 27
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Seoul, Dec 16 (NationPress) The Constitutional Court of South Korea stated on Monday that it will conduct its initial preparatory hearing regarding the Parliamentary impeachment of President Yoon Suk Yeol on December 27, initiating the judicial procedures for his impeachment trial.
The court made this announcement during a meeting of its justices to deliberate on the proceedings, including the scheduling of dates for the crucial hearing to evaluate arguments and pertinent evidence.
On Saturday, the National Assembly approved an impeachment motion against Yoon due to his brief declaration of martial law on December 3, which suspended his presidential powers and transferred the decision regarding his fate to the Constitutional Court.
The court indicated that it has sent a copy of the impeachment request to Yoon and is currently awaiting his response. According to Yonhap news agency, Yoon is not compelled to respond.
The court emphasized that it will prioritize Yoon's impeachment trial.
The highest court has a maximum of 180 days to issue a ruling on whether to uphold the impeachment and remove Yoon from office, or to reinstate him.
Once the court completes its preparations, the impeachment hearings will be conducted publicly. Yoon is generally required to be present at the hearings; however, he is not obligated to attend the first preparatory hearing scheduled for December 27.
If the impeachment is upheld, Yoon would become the second president to be removed from office following former President Park Geun-hye in 2017, which would necessitate a snap presidential election within 60 days.
Earlier today, the joint investigation team looking into the martial law situation was attempting to serve a summons for President Yoon Suk Yeol to be questioned this week regarding his declaration of martial law earlier this month.
The joint team, comprising the police, the Corruption Investigation Office for High-ranking Officials (CIO), and the investigation unit of the Defence Ministry, aims to question Yoon as a suspect on allegations of insurrection and abuse of power related to the martial law declaration on December 3.
