South Korea’s Constitutional Court on Tuesday opened the impeachment trial of President Yoon Suk Yeol, who faces charges over his controversial martial law bid.
However, the first hearing was swiftly adjourned as Yoon failed to appear in court.
According to the AFP, Yoon’s December 3 attempt to impose military rule triggered South Korea’s most severe political turmoil in decades.
He reportedly directed soldiers to storm the National Assembly in an effort to block lawmakers from voting on his suspension of civilian governance. The move, which lasted only six hours, led to his impeachment and suspension from office.
Yoon has since refused to cooperate with investigations into alleged insurrection charges and has used his presidential security detail to resist arrest.
The court convened its first hearing at 2:00 pm local time (0500 GMT), but it was adjourned within minutes due to Yoon’s absence.
“The trial will proceed without President Yoon if he continues to refuse to attend,” a court spokesperson said. The next hearing is set for Thursday, with additional sessions scheduled for January 21, January 23, and February 4.
The Constitutional Court’s eight judges will examine whether Yoon’s martial law declaration violated the Constitution or other laws. A minimum of six votes in favor of impeachment is required to permanently remove him from office.
“There are overwhelming reasons for the immediate dismissal of President Yoon,” the National Assembly’s legal team said before the trial commenced.
The court has up to 180 days from December 14, 2024, to issue its ruling. Yoon’s legal representatives have called for the full period to be utilized, arguing that a detailed review of the circumstances surrounding the martial law declaration is essential.
Meanwhile, investigators from the Corruption Investigation Office and the police are preparing a second attempt to arrest Yoon, who has fortified his Seoul residence with barbed wire and bus barricades.
An earlier arrest attempt failed after Yoon’s security team blocked access to his compound. “We are ready to consider all options, including meetings at a neutral third location,” said Chung Jin-suk, Yoon’s chief of staff.
If arrested, Yoon would become the first sitting South Korean president to face such action. A successful conviction could result in a prison sentence or even the death penalty, according to legal experts.
The CIO has pledged to ensure the next arrest attempt succeeds. “This situation must be resolved to restore public confidence,” said a CIO official.
The political crisis deepened further last month when lawmakers also impeached Yoon’s acting stand-in. The current interim president has urged dialogue among all parties to de-escalate tensions.
Experts warn that the stakes are high. “Failure to execute a second arrest warrant could undermine the credibility of the CIO and exacerbate social unrest,” said Lee Jae-mook, a political science professor at Hankuk University of Foreign Studies.
