February 11, 2025
Seoul – President Yoon Suk Yeol's impeachment trial entered its final phase this week, with only two formal hearings remaining as those in the legal community generally expect the verdict to be held in mid-March.
The Constitutional Court will hold its seventh and eighth hearings Tuesday and Thursday to inquire with eight witnesses. While further hearings may be scheduled, the court will likely end the lawsuit by the end of this month and make a decision on Yoon's impeachment next month.
“So far, no other hearings have been planned,” Court press officer Cheon Jae-hyun told reporters on Monday.
But some predict at least two additional meetings could be added, convening impeachment prime minister Han Duck-soo and defense counterintelligence commander Lee Kyung-Min, who have not yet witnessed.
Since the National Assembly was shot YOON on December 14 last year in his December 3 martial arts statement, the country's Supreme Court has held two preliminary hearings and six formal hearings so far.
After initial absence, Yoon attended the last four hearings, dating back to January 21.
The court reviewed the procedure for declaring martial law, details of declaration 1, military intervention by the National Election Commission, Yoon's attempt to seize control of the National Assembly and his so-called efforts to detain politicians.
So far, witnesses include former Defense Minister Kim Yang and three main commanders involved in the controversial martial law declaration.
On Tuesday, the court will challenge former Minister of Interior and Security Lee Sang-Min, head of the National Security Office Shin Won-Sik, former NIS Deputy Director Baek Jong-Wook and NEC Secretary-General Kim Yong-bin.
On Thursday, the court will hear from four other witnesses: former South Korean National Police Commissioner Cho Ji-Ho, former Seoul Police Commissioner Kim Bong-Sik, NIS Directors Cho Tae-Yong and Cho Sung-Hyun and Cho Sung-hyun, The first security battalion commander, the Army's Capital Defense Command.
Among the remaining witnesses, Baker's testimony may be crucial, as Yoon's defense team is expected to highlight allegations of election fraud during the inquiry.
Whether these claims are true or related to the martial law declaration standards, the Constitutional Court has rejected the Yoon team’s request to check voter numbers and audit NEC servers.
After completing the witness inspection, the court may set a separate date for Yoon's final statement.
In a previous impeachment trial, the court held two hearings after witness testimony from former President Roh Moo-Hyun and for former President Park Geun-Hye Hearing.
The court issued a verdict in the Park case two weeks after the final debate in the ROH case.
Based on this precedent, the National Assembly has passed the impeachment motion about three months after it is expected to be in mid-March, Yoon's decision to impeachment is expected. The schedule is similar to Parker's case (91 days), but longer than ROH (63 days).
Meanwhile, Met’s legal team is reportedly trying to postpone the proceedings, but has asked to reduce the frequency of hearings to once a week.
They can also require a cessation of trial under Article 51 of the Constitutional Act, and the court can suspend impeachment lawsuits if criminal trials involving the same allegations are involved.
The first trial of Yoon's criminal case was originally scheduled to be held on February 20.
Meanwhile, the cyber investigation team of the Southern Provincial Police Department of Gongjiji said they arrested a man in their 30s on intimidation charges.
He was accused of posting an intention to “arson in the Constitutional Court” online at the January 19 online community DC's American Political Gallery. He reportedly said he wrote comments “out of anger”.
