President Yoon's impeachment trial to end on February 25

Thank you for joining us. I'm Yoon Jung-min.

The President's impeachment trial will come to a close next week with an 11th hearing that will see the respective sides sharing their final remarks.

Eyes are now on the upcoming verdict.

Oh Soo-young has our top story.

President Yoon Suk Yeol's impeachment trial will conclude next Tuesday with his final statement at the Constitutional Court.

The Court announced Thursday at Yoon's 10th trial hearing,. that the next and final session would be held on February 25th, some 74 days after the impeachment vote passed at the National Assembly.

The bench will review remaining evidence before the National Assembly's legal team and the President's lawyers each make their closing arguments.

Then the Assembly panel's Co-Chair Jung Chung-rae and President Yoon will deliver their final remarks.

The Court on Thursday held the last round of witness examinations.

"The questions focused on whether President Yoon had gone through proper Cabinet procedures before declaring martial law, and whether he'd ordered arrests of key politicians and judicial figures."

First up was Prime Minister Han Duck-soo who said there had been anomalies in procedure and substance, compared to a standard Cabinet meeting.

He said that the Defence Minister had not consulted him before recommending martial law to the President, as required by the Constitution,.. and said no minutes were taken.

Han stopped short of judging whether or not a legitimate Cabinet meeting took place, saying that should be determined through investigative and judicial procedures.

Former National Intelligence Service Deputy Director Hong Jang-won who was a witness earlier this month returned for further questioning by Yoon's legal team.

Hong previously testified that he'd made note of 14 to 16 figures to arrest under martial law, claiming he'd written it in the night outside the residence of his boss Director Cho Tae-yong.

He received the names from Defense Counterintelligence Commander Yeo In-hyung, who Hong phoned as the President told him to "help out the commander."

But Hong changed his words on Thursday, saying he had been in his office after all.

His boss told the Court last week that Hong had lied about his whereabouts citing CCTV footage.

As Hong and Yoon's lawyers clashed over the veracity of his note which was reproduced and altered various times, the President spoke out,.. saying the debate misses the point.

He said he'd called Hong to encourage him to work with Yeo on hunting down spies, without mentioning martial law.

He pointed out Hong was the one who called the Commander, made notes, and then held onto them until he was dismissed from the NIS.

National Police Agency chief Cho Ji-ho also stood witness, after two absences due to illness.

He refused to answer most questions due to his own criminal case, but said he testified truthfully to prosecutors.

Cho had said Yoon called him six times on December 3rd and told him to arrest lawmakers.

Based on past presidential impeachment trials, a verdict is likely to be reached within two weeks around March 11th.

Former President Park Geun-hye's impeachment was upheld in 11 days, while former President Roh Moo-hyun's was dismissed in 14 days.

Oh Soo-young, Arirang News.