South Korea Court Begins Yoon’s Impeachment trial

South Korea’s constitutional court has begun trial proceedings for the impeachment of President Yoon Suk Yeol, who was suspended for declaring martial law and plunging his country into political turmoil.

MPs voted to impeach Yoon last Saturday, after his actions sparked widespread protests calling for him to step down.

The court now has six months to decide whether to remove Yoon or reinstate him.

Yoon’s ruling People Power Party (PPP) has been grappling with the fallout ever since, with its leader announcing his resignation on Monday.

While public hearings for Yoon’s impeachment trial could take months, the court is under pressure to decide quickly and bring an end to political uncertainty. Protesters have vowed to keep up their calls for Yoon’s removal during court proceedings.

In the previous two instances a South Korean president faced impeachment, the court reversed one decision and upheld the other.

There had been questions on whether the trial could proceed in Yoon’s case, as the court currently only has six justices out of nine. Three retired recently and have yet to be replaced.

But the court said on Monday it could run Yoon’s trial with just six judges, and set a preliminary hearing date for 27 December.

If the court upholds impeachment in Yoon’s case, the country must hold fresh presidential elections within 60 days.

In the meantime, Prime Minister Han Duck-soo is serving as acting president.
It is unclear if Yoon will take the stand himself during the court hearings.

He ignored a summons to meet prosecutors in Seoul on Sunday, and is set to be ordered in again for questioning. If he fails to come forward this week, police may move to arrest him.

BBC/Ejiofor Ezeifeoma