Yonhap reported that the Constitutional Court of South Korea will hold the first formal hearing in the impeachment trial of President Yoon Suk Yeol on January 14. However, to ensure security, Mr. Yoon does not need to be present.
The hearing, scheduled for 2 p.m. (local time) on January 14, comes exactly one month after the National Assembly voted to impeach Mr. Yoon for his sudden declaration of martial law in South Korea on December 3, 2024.
Mr Yoon is currently suspended from his duties and will not attend the trial due to personal safety concerns, as investigators attempt to arrest him on charges of rebellion and abuse of power related to the martial law decree, according to his lawyers.
Due to Mr. Yoon’s absence, the hearing is expected to end quickly. By law, if Mr. Yoon continues to be absent at the next hearing on January 16, the court can proceed with the case without his presence.
Mr Yoon's lawyers have asked for Judge Chung Kye-sun to be removed from the trial over concerns that her previous work as head of a progressive legal research association could affect the fairness of the ruling.
Chung Kye-sun is expected to be one of eight judges who will attend the trial this afternoon.
Also on January 14, the court is expected to announce its decision on this request.
The court has 180 days to decide whether to uphold or reject the impeachment of Mr. Yoon, starting from the date of receipt of the case on December 14, 2024. If the impeachment is upheld, Mr. Yoon will be removed from office, leading to a presidential election within 60 days. If the impeachment is rejected, Mr. Yoon will be reinstated.
