South Korea’s Constitutional Court on Friday held the first preparatory hearing of a trial on the validity of President Yoon Suk Yeol’s impeachment by parliament over his short-lived imposition of martial law.
Yoon’s lawyers Bae Bo-yoon, Yun Gap-geun and Bae Jin-han appeared before the top court, according to the Seoul-based Yonhap News.
The court will again hear the two sides on Jan. 3.
Lawmakers voted to impeach Yoon, 63, on Dec. 14 over his failed bid to impose martial law in the country.
He faces treason and insurrection among other charges.
Representatives from the parliament also appeared before the court and sought the appearance of 15 witnesses in the case.
The lawmakers are represented by former Constitutional Court Justice Kim Yi-su and former National Human Rights Commission Chairman Song Doo-hwan.
Justices Lee Mi-son and Cheong Hyung-sik presided over the hearing.
Shocking the nation with the announcement of martial law on Dec. 3, Yoon was forced to rescind the order within six hours after parliament passed a motion against it that night.
The top court has six months, since Dec. 14, to decide whether to uphold or dismiss the impeachment, while Prime Minister Han Duck-soo officiates as president since Yoon remains suspended from his duties.
Ahead of the first hearing by the top court, Yoon had refused to entertain notices from the Constitutional Court. But the court had said it will proceed with its trial beginning today.
Yoon was impeached in a second parliamentary vote held on Dec. 14 when at least 12 lawmakers from his People Power Party joined the opposition bloc of 192 parliamentarians, led by the Democratic Party, to suspend the president.
In the 300-seat parliament, at least 200 lawmakers should vote to suspend a sitting South Korean president.
If the top court upholds the impeachment motion, Yoon will be removed from office and a fresh presidential election is due within two months from that date.
Police were also searching the office of the Presidential Security Service for CCTV footage of the compound.
Police were searching the place where Yoon allegedly met with senior police officials to discuss martial law plans.
Separately, parliament is set to hold a separate vote to impeach Han, the acting president, after he refused to appoint three Constitutional Court judges.
This will be the first time in South Korea’s history that a vote to impeach the acting president will be held.