South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol’s legal team is scheduled to attend a preparatory hearing at the Constitutional Court at 2 p.m. on Friday. However, it remains unclear whether the legal team has prepared the necessary documents, including their formal response to the impeachment motion.
This morning, the President’s office confirmed that Yoon’s attorneys, including Bae Bo Yoon, will submit their official appointment papers to the Constitutional Court and attend the session. Bae, a former spokesperson for the Constitutional Court, and Yoon Gap Keun, a former chief prosecutor from Daegu, are expected to lead the defense efforts in the trial.
This upcoming hearing marks the first official procedure since the National Assembly passed the impeachment motion against Yoon two weeks ago. During the session, representatives from the National Assembly (the petitioner) and Yoon’s legal team (the respondent) will outline their positions and discuss key issues and evidence related to the case.
Justices Lee Mi Seon and Jeong Hyeong Sik will oversee the hearing. Yoon is not required to be present.
Previously, the Constitutional Court received the impeachment motion from the National Assembly and sent the relevant documents to Yoon’s legal team. However, the delivery was delayed due to refusal by the President’s Security Service. Last week, the court sent the documents via postal mail and formally announced that the delivery was now complete. As a result, Yoon’s legal team is now considered to have officially received the documents.
The Constitutional Court has instructed Yoon’s legal team to submit their response by Friday. Under the Constitutional Court Act, the respondent is required to submit a written reply addressing the claims and reasons for the impeachment within seven days of receiving the documents. However, even if Yoon’s legal team fails to submit a response, the preparatory hearing will proceed as planned.
With the appointment of the President’s legal team confirmed, the impeachment trial process is expected to move forward more quickly. However, how Yoon’s team will respond to the Constitutional Court’s demands will likely become clearer as the proceedings unfold.
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