The Seoul Central District Court on Thursday began hearing the criminal case of Yoon Suk Yeol, accused of leading a rebellion and suspended as South Korea’s president by a decision of the National Assembly, the Korean media reported.
During the preliminary hearing, the court finds out the basic circumstances of the case and plans future sessions. The presence of the defendant is not required in such cases, but the court is simultaneously considering Yoon’s petition to have his arrest cancelled. In such matters, the presence of the petitioner is required.
In the afternoon, the Constitutional Court will hold the tenth impeachment hearing of Yoon. Former Prime Minister Han Duck-soo, former deputy director of the National Intelligence Service Hong Jang-won and former police department chief Cho Ji-ho have been invited as witnesses in the case. The hearing is scheduled to be the final session and the Constitutional Court will issue a ruling in mid-March.
Yoon Suk Yeol was impeached after martial law was imposed in the country on December 3 last year.
