South Korea's Constitutional Court initiated the impeachment process against President Yoon Suk-yeol on Monday, following his attempt to impose martial law on December 3. This marks the beginning of a legal journey that could see Yoon removed from office within the next six months.
The first public hearing is scheduled for December 27, where major legal issues surrounding the case will be addressed and schedules set. Unlike previous proceedings, President Yoon is not required to attend this preparatory hearing.
This move echoes the 2017 impeachment of former President Park Geun-hye, where the court swiftly removed her from office after just three months. The current impeachment stems from allegations of insurrection related to the brief martial law declaration.
A joint investigative team from the police, defense ministry, and an anti-corruption agency plans to question President Yoon this week. Efforts to serve him a summons have so far been unsuccessful, as the presidential security service declined to accept it.
Additionally, Yoon recently failed to appear for a separate summons by the prosecutors' office, citing the ongoing formation of his legal defense team as the reason for his absence.
Reference(s):
cgtn.com
