Official ruling from the Constitutional Court

Suspended South Korea President Yoon Suk Yeol to Skip First Impeachment Hearing Over Safety Concerns

Jan 12, 2025, 04:35 AM

South Korea's suspended President Yoon Suk Yeol will not attend the first formal hearing of his impeachment trial, scheduled for Tuesday, due to safety concerns, his lawyer Yun Gap-geun announced. The decision comes amidst ongoing political unrest following Yoon's brief declaration of martial law, which led to his impeachment. Investigators are preparing another attempt to arrest Yoon over this decree, adding to the tension. Yoon's lawyer stated that the president's absence is due to concerns about personal safety and potential mishaps, as attempts are being made to execute what they consider an illegal and invalid arrest warrant. The Constitutional Court is set to begin the impeachment trial, which will proceed even in Yoon's absence if necessary, with a total of five hearing sessions planned until February 4.