The ninth hearing in the impeachment trial of President Yoon Suk-yeol will take place at the Constitutional Court from 2 p.m. on the 18th. Attention is focused on whether the scheduled 10th hearing on the 20th will be changed.
On this day, President Yoon will attend the ninth hearing. The Constitutional Court will not conduct witness examinations but will summarize the claims and written summaries of both the National Assembly, which initiated the impeachment, and the respondent, President Yoon. Both sides plan to present their positions for two hours each. There will also be an investigation into the evidence that was previously accepted.
The only remaining hearing is the 10th hearing scheduled for the 20th. Witness examinations of Prime Minister Han Duck-soo, former first deputy director of the National Intelligence Service Hong Jang-won, and Chief of the Korean National Police Agency Jo Ji-ho are scheduled for the 10th hearing.
In this regard, President Yoon's side has requested to postpone the Constitutional Court hearing as a preliminary hearing regarding the charge of 'leader of rebellion' against President Yoon and a hearing for cancellation of arrest are scheduled for the morning of the 20th at the court. The Constitutional Court has not yet disclosed whether the hearing on the 20th will be postponed.
In past presidential impeachment trials, once witness examinations and evidence investigations were completed, the National Assembly, which initiated the impeachment, and the respondent's side would present their final opinions before concluding the hearing. Former President Park Geun-hye had 17 hearings, while former President Roh Moo-hyun had 7. Subsequently, former President Park received the impeachment ruling decision in 11 days, while former President Roh received the decision to dismiss the impeachment in 14 days.