Yoon Impeachment Trial Expected to Intensify Starting from the 16th

CIO Sends Official Documents to Security Service and Others Regarding Arrest Efforts

The first hearing date for President Yoon Seok-yeol's impeachment trial is expected to be postponed due to the absence of the parties involved. Full-scale arguments are anticipated to begin from the second hearing on the 16th.

President Yoon's side expressed their intention not to attend the first impeachment trial hearing scheduled for the 14th, citing personal safety and security concerns. According to the Constitutional Court Act, if a party fails to appear, a new hearing date must be set. Accordingly, the first hearing will conclude without any arguments. From the second hearing onward, the trial can proceed even if the parties do not attend. The Constitutional Court has already designated five hearing dates, excluding holidays, on every Tuesday and Thursday. The 16th is expected to be the actual first round of the impeachment trial.

On the 13th, as the High-ranking Officials' Crime Investigation Agency's second arrest warrant execution attempt against President Yoon Seok-yeol approaches, a sense of silence envelops the presidential residence in Yongsan-gu, Seoul. Photo by Kang Jin-hyung

Previously, former President Roh Moo-hyun in 2004 and former President Park Geun-hye in 2017 did not attend any impeachment trial procedures, including the first hearing. However, President Yoon's side has stated that they will attend "whenever safety issues are resolved."

The key issues in President Yoon's impeachment motion are whether the acts of preparing and declaring martial law, the announcement of the martial law command's proclamation, and the obstruction of the National Assembly by armed forces such as the military and police seriously violate the Constitution and laws. The Constitutional Court has already secured some related investigation records from the prosecution, the police agency, and the Ministry of National Defense. Theoretically, if even one of these issues is found to be a serious constitutional (legal) violation, it could lead to a dismissal decision.

Meanwhile, the Corruption Investigation Office for High-ranking Officials (CIO) sent official letters the day before requesting cooperation from the Ministry of National Defense and the Presidential Security Service regarding the execution of arrest warrants. On the 13th, about 200 protesters opposing the impeachment held a rally in front of the presidential residence in Hannam-dong, Seoul. About 500 meters away near Hannam Elementary School, voices supporting the impeachment shouted "Resign, leader of the rebellion." This has been the 'sad self-portrait' of Hannam-dong continuing for several weeks.