Constitutional Court Denies Yoon's Request to Change Hearing Date, Delays Start by One Hour
Han Ducksoo at 3 p.m., Hong Jangwon at 5 p.m.; Jo Jiho's Attendance Uncertain
Yoon Visits Constitutional Court for 9th Hearing, Returns to Detention Center
The Constitutional Court decided to hold the 10th hearing of the impeachment trial on the 20th as scheduled, without changing the date. President Yoon Seok-yeol's side had requested a date change because a criminal trial on charges of 'leader of a rebellion' was scheduled for the same day, but this was denied. However, the hearing time originally set for 2 p.m. was postponed by one hour to start at 3 p.m.
On the 18th, Moon Hyung-bae, Acting Chief Justice of the Constitutional Court, stated during the 9th hearing of President Yoon Seok-yeol's impeachment trial held from 2 p.m., "The first preparatory hearing of President Yoon's criminal trial is at 10 a.m., and the impeachment trial is scheduled for 2 p.m., so there is a time gap. We must consider the schedules of the parties, the bench, and witnesses for the hearing date, and the bench holds trials four days a week." He added, "Considering the request to execute a detention warrant for witness Jo Ji-ho (Chief of the National Police Agency) and that the 10th hearing will examine three witnesses requested by the respondent, the date was set for 2 p.m. on the 20th."
However, when President Yoon's side requested a time adjustment again, it was accepted, and the schedule originally set for 2 p.m. was delayed by one hour to start at 3 p.m. on the same day. Acting Chief Justice Moon said, "(President Yoon's side's claim) has merit. I would like to ask the prosecutors for their opinion. Is it okay to delay the start time by one hour on Thursday?" and proposed the change of the start time.
Accordingly, at the hearing on the 20th, Prime Minister Han Duck-soo and former First Deputy Director of the National Intelligence Service Hong Jang-won will appear as witnesses at 3 p.m. and 5 p.m., respectively. Jo Ji-ho, Chief of the National Police Agency, who was also scheduled for witness examination, submitted another letter of excuse citing health reasons. Jo is battling blood cancer and was previously selected as a witness twice in the impeachment trial but submitted excuse letters and did not appear both times.
On the day, Acting Chief Justice Moon said, "It is uncertain whether witness Jo Ji-ho will appear or not," adding, "We asked them to specify the conditions for attendance, and they said they would inform us today whether he would go to the hospital for treatment and come or not." The Constitutional Court has issued a detention warrant for Jo and requested the Seoul Eastern District Prosecutors' Office to execute it.
Jo is expected to testify on whether President Yoon blocked members of the National Assembly from entering the National Assembly building during the emergency martial law period, whether he ordered the removal of members inside the assembly hall, and whether there were arrest orders for politicians, among other matters.
Meanwhile, President Yoon visited the Constitutional Court on the day of the 9th hearing but returned to Seoul Detention Center just before the hearing began. President Yoon's legal team stated that he came to attend the hearing but, after confirming that the day was for summarizing the proceedings so far and for both sides' legal teams to explain their opinions, he returned to the detention center.
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