South Korea’s Constitutional Court has begun the impeachment trial of suspended President Yoon Suk Yeol, who faces removal following his controversial martial law attempt in December.
The first hearing lasted just four minutes due to Yoon’s absence, as his lawyers cited safety concerns and a pending arrest warrant for insurrection. Yoon was suspended after parliament, including members of his own party, voted to impeach him. His removal requires at least six out of eight Constitutional Court judges to uphold the impeachment.
The next hearing is set for Thursday, with Yoon’s lawyers challenging the court’s decisions on trial dates and requesting the recusal of one justice. Yoon, South Korea’s first sitting president to face arrest, has been primarily communicating through his lawyers since his impeachment vote on December 14.
In addition to the impeachment, authorities are preparing for another attempt to arrest Yoon for insurrection following a standoff in January. His brief martial law declaration in December sparked political chaos, leading to his suspension and significant economic turmoil in South Korea.
