Constitutional Court sets additional hearings for President Yoon's impeachment trial

Welcome to Within The Frame where we bring the most pressing issues across the globe into focus, I'm Kim Mok-yeon.

As the impeachment trial of President Yoon Suk Yeol continues to unfold, key developments are drawing intense public attention.

With the Constitutional Court wrapping up its eighth hearing and scheduling additional sessions, the trial is entering a critical final phase.

The court's focus now shifts to assessing conflicting testimonies and handling disputes over procedural fairness, all while navigating external factors that could affect the timeline of its ruling.

Meanwhile, parallel criminal proceedings on insurrection charges add further complexity to the legal landscape.

To help us break down the progress of the impeachment trial and the potential implications for President Yoon's legal battles, we invite Song Se-ryun, Professor of Law at Kyung Hee University. Welcome, Professor.

Also joining us is Joung W. Hwang, Chief Executive Officer of LawQuant LLC. Great to have you.

(SONG) 1. The Constitutional Court wrapped up its eighth hearing session yesterday. How do you assess the overall progress of the impeachment trial so far? Do you believe sufficient questioning has been conducted? The court has categorized the National Assembly's grounds for impeachment into five major points. What are the specific key issues?

(HWANG) 2. The key issue in yesterday's eighth hearing was whether there was an order to arrest political figures during the declaration of martial law. Former National Intelligence Service Deputy Director Hong Jang-won testified that there was indeed such an order, whereas National Intelligence Service Director Cho Tae-yong questioned the credibility of that testimony. How do you think the justices will assess these conflicting statements? What will they focus on when making their decision?

(SONG) 3. President Yoon's legal team has criticized the court's handling of the trial, claiming that it prioritized "speedy proceedings over fairness." They took issue with the fact that written statements from investigative agencies were accepted as evidence despite key witnesses changing their testimony. The Constitutional Court maintains that it is following legal precedents. What is your opinion on this dispute?

(HWANG) 4. The Constitutional Court has scheduled additional hearings for President Yoon's impeachment trial. It announced that it will hold two more sessions on the 18th and 20th, although Yoon has requested a rescheduling for the 20th. What is the reason for scheduling these additional hearings, and what key issues should be noted?

(SONG) 5. It seems that the timeline for President Yoon's impeachment trial could be affected by the appointment of Ma Eun-hyuk as a justice. Why is this the case? Given this, when do you think the final ruling in President Yoon's impeachment trial will be delivered?

(HWANG) 6. Meanwhile, on February 10th, the court concluded arguments in the jurisdiction dispute over Acting President Choi Sang-mok's decision to defer Ma Eun-hyuk's appointment and postponed the ruling. How do you expect the Constitutional Court to make a decision, and what implications might it have for Acting President Choi's next steps?

(SONG) 7. On February 11th, the National Human Rights Commission of Korea recommended that President Yoon's right to defend himself in the impeachment trial should be protected. Some civic groups have criticized this decision, calling for reforms within the Commission. What motivated the Commission's recommendation? How might this affect President Yoon's ongoing trial?

(HWANG) 8. Let's move on to the criminal trial related to the rebellion charges. Separate from the impeachment trial, the first pretrial hearing on the rebellion leadership charges will take place on the 20th. What are the main issues in this criminal trial?

(SONG) 9. On the 20th, in addition to the criminal trial, a hearing will be held on President Yoon's request to be released from detention. Why did the court decide to address the detention cancellation request on the same day as his insurrection case's first pretrial hearing? What are the chances that the court will grant his release?

(HWANG) 10. There is speculation that President Yoon's legal team may adopt a delay strategy, claiming that it is difficult to handle both the impeachment trial and the criminal trial simultaneously. When do you expect a ruling in the criminal trial? What procedural steps lie ahead?