South Korea: Constitutional Court Commits to Rapid Progress on President Yoon's Impeachment Hearing
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Seoul, Dec 27 (NationPress) The Constitutional Court of South Korea declared on Friday that it would promptly advance the impeachment trial of President Yoon Suk Yeol after concluding the initial hearing, with the subsequent session planned for January 3.
This announcement was made during the preparatory hearing, which focused on the legitimacy of Yoon's impeachment initiated by the National Assembly this month, concerning his failed attempt to impose martial law on December 3, according to a report by Yonhap news agency.
Justice Cheong Hyung-sik, one of the judges overseeing the preparatory proceedings, emphasized, "The case regarding the President's impeachment is of greater significance than any other case," highlighting that the court prioritizes cases that are deemed "most urgent."
Justice Lee Mi-son, another judge on the Constitutional Court, remarked that the date was established based on the seriousness and ramifications of the impeachment trial on national affairs and public concern.
The hearing convened the legal representatives of both Yoon and the National Assembly for the first time to present their arguments, witness lists, and evidence, while also coordinating future hearing dates.
Yoon, who was not obligated to attend, did not show up as anticipated.
During the proceedings, Yoon's legal team indicated they would challenge the legality of the impeachment request, suggesting possible procedural irregularities in the National Assembly’s motion.
While they acknowledged Yoon's declaration of martial law and the subsequent announcement as a fact, they stated they would elaborate on the context surrounding that declaration later.
Until Friday morning, Yoon had declined to accept documents related to his trial and had not appointed a legal defense team. However, just hours before the hearing, his team announced the formation of a legal group consisting of lawyers Bae Bo-yoon, Yun Gap-geun, and Bae Jin-han. Notably, Bae Bo-yoon previously served as a spokesperson for the Constitutional Court during the impeachment trial of former President Geun-hye.
The National Assembly was represented by former Constitutional Court Justice Kim Yi-su and former Chairman of the National Human Rights Commission Song Doo-hwan, among others.
Yoon has refuted allegations of inciting insurrection through his martial law declaration on December 3, asserting it was an "act of governance" intended as a warning against what he characterized as an abuse of legislative power by the main opposition, the Democratic Party.
Additionally, Yoon has overlooked multiple summonses from a joint investigation team for questioning regarding the insurrection allegations.
The court has a period of 180 days to determine whether to affirm or reject the impeachment from the date it received the case on December 14.
If upheld, Yoon will be ousted from his position, leading to a snap presidential election within 60 days. Conversely, if the impeachment is dismissed, Yoon will be reinstated.
