IMPEACHMENT TRIAL ENTERS FINAL STAGE

Welcome to Thursday's edition of Press Perspective for February 20th here in Seoul.

I'm Min Sunhee.

Today we touch upon the president's impeachment trial which appears to be drawing to a close.

For more I have Thomas Maresca with news agency UPI.

Thomas it's good to have you here.

I also have Professor Cho Hee-kyung at Hongik University joining our talk virtually.

Professor Cho as always it's a pleasure.

1) Thomas, let's start with the president's impeachment trial. What's the latest on that front?

2) Thomas, Prime Minister Han Duck-soo also faces an impeachment trial. How is that proceeding?

3) Professor Cho, do walk us through the legal argument of the president's defense team as stated back on Tuesday at the Constitutional Court and that of the parliamentary panel seeking his impeachment.

4) And Professor Cho, how have the various testimonies at the president's impeachment trial affected public sentiment?

5) Thomas, quite a number of foreign media outlets have been highlighting the deepening political divide here in Korea amid the president's impeachment trial. What have been some of your more recent observations?

6) Professor Cho, quite a number of ruling party lawmakers have also sought to realign themselves with the president in sharp contrast to the distance they sought during the early days of the fallout from his brief imposition of martial law. How do you explain this reality?

7) Thomas, staying within the political arena. Government officials and lawmakers from the ruling and opposition parties met today to address a number of domestic issues including an extra budget, pension reform, a special chips act and more. What are your takeaways from this trilateral meeting?

8) Professor Cho, back on the impeachment trial. What are the protocols ahead as we await the court's verdict?

9) And Thomas, what are some of the stories that the international media looks to cover with regard to Korea's politics going forward?

All right.