The Constitutional Court has scheduled an additional hearing in President Yoon Suk Yeol’s impeachment trial, extending the proceedings.
With this extra session and Yoon’s legal team requesting further witness testimony from Prime Minister Han Duck Soo and others, questions arise as to whether the court will be able to reach its final decision by early March as initially anticipated.
Legal sources revealed on Friday that Acting Chief Justice Moon Hyung Bae announced during the eighth hearing on Thursday that the ninth session would be held at 2 p.m. on February 18.
This additional hearing follows the completion of the eight previously scheduled sessions. The Constitutional Court previously stated that no plans were made for a ninth hearing.
Once the hearings conclude, the justices will deliberate before setting a verdict date. Legal experts had suggested that if the proceedings, including final arguments and Yoon’s closing statement, wrapped up after the eighth hearing, a ruling could come as early as March.
However, the court’s decision to continue proceedings on February 18 has led to speculation that the ruling may be delayed.
Given that former President Roh Moo Hyun’s impeachment trial concluded 14 days after the final hearing and former President Park Geun Hye’s verdict came 11 days later, it is likely that even if hearings end after February 18, a ruling may not come until mid-March or later.
Yoon’s legal team has requested further witness examinations, potentially complicating the timeline.
They are pushing for testimony from Prime Minister Han Duck Soo, former National Intelligence Service Deputy Director Hong Jang Won, Presidential Chief of Staff Kang Yi Goo, Correctional Service Director Shin Yong Hae, and former Seoul Eastern Detention Center Director Park Kyung Sun.
Yoon’s legal team also insists on compelling testimony from Police Chief Jo Ji Ho, who repeatedly cited his absence for health reasons.
During the eighth hearing, Yoon’s representatives argued that Chief Jo had appeared before the National Assembly’s Administrative Safety Committee and undergone three police interrogations, followed by ten prosecutorial investigations after his emergency arrest and detention.
He has also been questioned eight times in the hospital, with sessions lasting up to seven hours. We urge the court to ensure his testimony, even if he submits another absence notice.”
In response, Acting Chief Justice Moon stated, “We will deliberate on the respondent’s witness requests on Friday morning and inform you of our decision afterward.”
If the court accepts additional witnesses, hearings may continue beyond the ninth session. However, precedent suggests that even if more witness examinations are approved, there will likely be only one more session, with proceedings expected to conclude this month.