Impeachment Hearing Begins For Suspended South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol

Suspended South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol faces legal crisis as the Constitutional Court held its first impeachment hearing. The hearing lasted only four minutes due to Yoon's absence. His lawyers cited security concerns and an arrest warrant against him for insurrection charges.

Yoon was impeached on December 14 after members of his own party joined the opposition in voting against him. His controversial martial law declaration on December 3, which he claimed was to counter "anti-state" forces, sparked widespread outrage. Critics argue it was a desperate attempt to consolidate power amidst mounting political pressure.

However, his removal requires at least six of the court's eight justices to uphold the impeachment. Under South Korean law, the court must reschedule a hearing before proceeding without the president's participation. Meanwhile, the court rejected Yoon’s request to recuse a justice and scheduled the next hearing for Thursday, with or without his participation.

Yoon, who has not spoken publicly since his suspension, faces mounting legal challenges. Investigators are preparing a second attempt to arrest him this week, marking an unprecedented moment in South Korean history.

As the political storm unfolds, the Constitutional Court’s decision will not only determine Yoon’s fate but also the direction of South Korea’s political and economic stability.