South Korea's Constitutional Court begins impeachment proceedings against President Yoon Suk Yeol

Today (December 16), the Constitutional Court of South Korea began the impeachment process of President Yoon Suk Yeol, who was suspended from office after declaring a controversial martial law.

Police set up barricades in front of the Constitutional Court of South Korea in Seoul on December 16.

AFP quoted a spokesman for the Korean Constitutional Court as initially saying that the first session of the impeachment process would be held at 10 a.m. on December 16 (Seoul time).

Acting Chief Justice Moon Hyung-bae later confirmed that the judges would meet at 10 a.m. to plan the impeachment process against the president.

According to Yonhap, investigators plan to question President Yoon Suk Yeol this week on charges of treason and abuse of power through the act of declaring martial law on the night of December 3.

All six justices of the Constitutional Court attended the first session. The court has up to six months to decide whether to remove President Yoon from office or reinstate him.

Besides President Yoon, a series of high-ranking officials of the South Korean government and military face the risk of being prosecuted for treason.

A team of investigators from the police, defense ministry and anti-corruption agency is planning to summon President Yoon on December 18.

On December 15, the prosecutor's office said it had previously issued a summons to the leader, but he refused to comply with the request.

In a related development, Chairman of the ruling People's Power Party (PPP) Han Dong-hoon announced his decision to resign.

"I am stepping down as chairman of the PPP," AFP quoted Han Dong-hoon as saying in a televised meeting, apologizing to all those affected by martial law.

Despite his call for President Yoon's impeachment, which drew opposition from PPP members, Han Dong-hoon said he had no regrets about doing so.

Source: https://thanhnien.vn/toa-hien-phap-han-quoc-khoi-dong-quy-trinh-luan-toi-tong-thong-yoon-suk-yeol-185241216082410548.htm