14-1-2025 (SEOUL) The Constitutional Court is set to commence proceedings today in the impeachment trial of President Yoon Suk Yeol, whose brief attempt to impose martial law last month triggered unprecedented political turmoil in the nation.
The embattled president, currently sequestered in his Seoul hillside residence, is not expected to attend the initial hearing, according to legal sources. His absence is likely to result in a truncated session, with more substantial deliberations anticipated during Thursday’s scheduled hearing.
The high-stakes trial comes after Yoon’s controversial six-hour martial law declaration on 3 December, which sent shockwaves through one of Asia’s most established democracies. The Constitutional Court now faces the weighty task of determining whether to permanently remove Yoon from office or reinstate his presidential powers, a decision that must be reached within a 180-day timeframe.
Adding to the political drama, Yoon is simultaneously facing criminal charges for alleged insurrection. Law enforcement authorities are actively seeking to execute an arrest warrant following his repeated refusal to comply with questioning summons.
Speaking to reporters on Monday, Seok Dong-hyeon, a member of Yoon’s legal team, defended the president’s decision to skip today’s court session, claiming that ongoing attempts to detain him have effectively prevented him from properly presenting his position at trial.
In a potentially conciliatory gesture, Presidential Chief of Staff Chung Jin-suk issued a statement today indicating willingness to negotiate with investigating authorities regarding the execution of the arrest warrant. The statement outlined possible compromises, including arranging for Yoon’s questioning at a neutral location or permitting investigators to conduct their inquiry at his current residence.
The Corruption Investigation Office for High-Ranking Officials (CIO) and police forces have recently obtained a fresh arrest warrant after their initial attempt to detain Yoon for questioning was thwarted during a tense standoff with presidential security personnel earlier this month.
