The Constitutional Court concluded the preparatory session for the impeachment of Commissioner Jo Ji-ho on the 19th. The formal trial date is to be determined later.
On this day at 3 p.m., Justices Jeong Jeong-mi and Cho Han-chang held the third preparatory hearing for the impeachment trial of Commissioner Jo at the Constitutional Court's small courtroom in Jongno, Seoul. Attendance of the parties is not mandatory for the preparatory hearings.
Earlier, Commissioner Jo was impeached on December 12 of last year for abusing his authority by sending police to prevent members of the National Assembly from entering the Assembly (excessive suppression) during the martial law of December 3 and infringing upon the right to demand a dissolution of the martial law (obstruction of the exercise of rights), as well as involvement in a rebellion. However, the National Assembly decided to withdraw the charges of rebellion and obstruction of the exercise of rights at the last session.
The session that day proceeded in the order of organizing the issues regarding the grounds for impeachment and determining the admissibility of evidence. The court decided to conclude the preparatory session that day. Justice Jeong noted, "The trial date will be decided after deliberation among the nine justices."
Commissioner Jo was arrested and indicted on charges of rebellion related to the December 3 martial law but was released on bail last January due to health reasons, including blood cancer. Meanwhile, President Lee Jae-myung cannot appoint a new Commissioner of the Korean National Police Agency until the results of Jo's impeachment trial are announced. This is because, although his duties are suspended during the ongoing impeachment trial, his position is maintained.