South Korean court begins impeachment trial of Yoon Suk Yeol

South Korea’s constitutional court has begun an impeachment trial of President Yoon Suk Yeol, who was suspended for declaring martial law and plunging his country into political turmoil.

Lawmakers voted to impeach Yoon last Saturday, after his actions sparked widespread protests calling for his resignation.

The court now has six months to decide whether to expel Yoon or reinstate him.

Yoon’s People’s Power Party (PPP) has been grappling with the fallout ever since, with its leader announcing his resignation on Monday.

Although public hearings for Yoon’s impeachment trial could take months, the court is under pressure to rule quickly and end political uncertainty. Protesters have vowed to continue their calls for Yoon’s impeachment during the court proceedings.

In the two previous instances a South Korean president faced impeachment, the court overturned one decision and upheld the other.

Observers say what will complicate Yoon’s trial is the fact that the court has only six new judges, as three had recently retired and have not yet been replaced.

If the court upholds the impeachment in Yoon’s case, the country must hold new presidential elections within 60 days. Meanwhile, Prime Minister Han Duck-soo serves as acting president.

It is unclear whether Yoon will take the stand himself during the court hearings.

He ignored a summons to meet with prosecutors in Seoul on Sunday and is to be ordered to be questioned again. If he doesn’t show up this week, the police can arrest him.

Yoon has defended his decision to impose martial law, and after his removal he again said he would fight to the end.

Minutes after the constitutional court met on Monday morning, PPP leader Han Dong-hoon announced his resignation.

“I sincerely apologize to all the people who are suffering from this emergency situation,” Han said in a televised news conference.

Han has faced growing calls for his resignation, especially from the large pro-Yoon faction in his party, following the president’s impeachment.

Han had initially tried to make an orderly exit for Yoon. But after a challenging speech by Yoon, Han turned around and called for his removal, saying it was the only way to stop him.

On Saturday, 12 PPP lawmakers voted in favor of impeachment, allowing the motion to pass. But most other PPP lawmakers voted against Yoon’s impeachment.

All five members of the PPP Supreme Council said after the vote that they would resign, which would automatically dissolve the party leadership.

Since the Supreme Council has been “destroyed,” Han, it was now “impossible” to fulfill his duties as party chief.

“Although it pains me to think of my heartbroken supporters, I have no regrets,” Han said, referring to his decision to call for Yoon’s impeachment.