South Korea: Yoon's Impeachment Trial First Hearing Concludes in Four Minutes Due to His Absence
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Synopsis
The first hearing of South Korea's President Yoon Suk Yeol's impeachment trial lasted only four minutes due to his absence. The Constitutional Court dismissed his request to exclude a justice. Upcoming hearings will proceed regardless of Yoon's attendance.
Key Takeaways
- Yoon's impeachment trial starts with a brief hearing.
- The court will continue proceedings without Yoon present.
- Yoon's request to exclude a justice was denied.
- The court has 180 days to rule on impeachment.
- If upheld, Yoon faces removal and a new election.
Seoul, Jan 14 (NationPress) The inaugural official hearing of South Korea's President Yoon Suk Yeol's impeachment trial wrapped up in just four minutes on Tuesday due to his absence, with the Constitutional Court rejecting Yoon's appeal to exclude one of the eight justices from the proceedings.
The upcoming hearing is set for 2 p.m. on Thursday, and the court will continue with the trial irrespective of Yoon's attendance, as stated by acting court President Moon Hyung-bae, referencing the applicable law.
Tuesday's session occurred precisely one month after the National Assembly voted to impeach Yoon due to his brief declaration of martial law on December 3.
Yoon's legal representatives had previously indicated that the president, currently suspended from his duties, would not be present due to concerns over his personal safety amid efforts by investigators to detain him on accusations of insurrection and abuse of power related to his martial law announcement.
Moon announced that the court had unanimously decided to dismiss Yoon's request to eliminate one of the justices, Chung Kye-sun, from the trial, a decision supported by the remaining seven justices.
Yoon's legal team had sought Chung's removal, arguing that her previous role as the head of a progressive legal research organization could jeopardize the fairness of the ruling.
Moreover, Moon noted that the court rejected Yoon's objection to the simultaneous scheduling of five hearing dates, affirming that this decision was in line with laws and regulations governing the Constitutional Court, rather than a criminal court.
The court has a period of 180 days to determine whether to uphold or dismiss Yoon's impeachment, starting from the date it received the case on December 14.
If the impeachment is upheld, Yoon will be ousted, prompting a snap presidential election within 60 days. Conversely, if dismissed, he will be reinstated.
The National Assembly, which serves as the prosecutor in this case, requested five witnesses for the trial on Monday, according to Yonhap news agency.
The witnesses include Hong Jang-won, former first deputy director of the National Intelligence Service; Cho Ji-ho, commissioner general of the National Police Agency; Lt. Gen. Kwak Jong-keun, chief of the Army Special Warfare Command; Lt. Gen. Lee Jin-woo, commander of the Capital Defence Command; and Lt. Gen. Yeo In-hyung, head of the Defence Counterintelligence Command.
