Additional Pleadings Scheduled for the 18th and 20th
The Constitutional Court has selected Prime Minister Han Duck-soo, former First Deputy Director of the National Intelligence Service Hong Jang-won, and Police Commissioner Cho Ji-ho as additional witnesses for the impeachment trial of President Yoon Seok-yeol.
President Yoon Seok-yeol is attending the "8th Hearing on the Impeachment Trial of President Yoon Seok-yeol" held at the Constitutional Court in Jongno-gu, Seoul on February 13, 2025. Photo by Joint Press Corps
On the 14th, the Constitutional Court announced that it had chosen Prime Minister Han and former Deputy Director Hong as witnesses for President Yoon's side, and Police Commissioner Cho as a witness for both the National Assembly and President Yoon's sides. Previously, the court had rejected a witness request for Prime Minister Han once, but accepted it after President Yoon's side submitted the request again.
Former Deputy Director Hong testified before the court on the 4th, but President Yoon's side requested his recall during the 8th hearing held the previous day, citing doubts about the credibility of his testimony. Commissioner Cho was previously selected as a witness for the National Assembly side but was absent twice due to health reasons.
The Constitutional Court plans to hold the 10th hearing at 2 p.m. on the 20th, starting with the examination of Prime Minister Han as a witness. Following that, former Deputy Director Hong will be examined at 4:30 p.m., and Commissioner Cho at 5:30 p.m.
Additionally, the court rejected President Yoon's side's witness requests for Kang Ui-gu, First Deputy Chief of the Presidential Secretariat; Park Kyung-sun, former director of Seoul Eastern Detention Center; and Shin Yong-hae, head of the Ministry of Justice Correctional Headquarters.
At the 9th hearing on the 18th, the court plans to review written evidence and listen to each side's positions on the grounds for impeachment for two hours each.
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