President Yoon's impeachment trial ends Tuesday; two weeks to verdict?

We start here on the local front where the Constitutional Court is holding its final hearing of President Yoon Suk Yeol's impeachment trial.

For details on the day's events thus far I have our correspondent Oh Soo-young standing by.

Soo-young welcome back.

So what has been happening at the court?

President Yoon's 11th and final impeachment hearing began at 2 PM today some 73 days after the National Assembly passed a vote to remove him from power, after his December third martial law order.

Justices began with a review of evidence they haven't examined yet.

The Assembly's impeachment panel presented news reports and CCTV footage continuing to accuse Yoon of trying to storm the National Assembly and remove lawmakers from the building through military force, in an attempt to stop them from voting to lift martial law.

Before giving both the National Assembly and President Yoon's legal teams two hours to present their closing arguments.

So we're in the middle of that at the moment.

The National Assembly has argued that Yoon's declaration of martial law was illegal and his orders on December third unconstitutional.

"President Yoon lost the people's trust and declared martial law while ranting about anti-state forces. Now, it is time for him to face the consequences of his delusions."

Meanwhile, Yoon's legal team has continued to insist martial law is an executive right of the president, and was declared as a "warning" against the dominant opposition party's tyranny in parliament that paralyzed government functions, and concerns over election fraud.

After wrapping up the arguments, Assembly's impeachment panel chair Jung Chung-rae and President Yoon will deliver their final statements with no time restrictions.

Yoon has reportedly prepared a 40-minute-long handwritten speech.

He's expected to reiterate that the purpose of his martial law was peaceful and that he is trying to bring national unity.

All eyes are on whether he would offer some kind of political gesture or compromise to draw public appeal.

President Yoon didn't join his lawyers in the Courtroom at the start of the hearing as he was presumably preparing for his speech.

He was seen departing Seoul Detention Center about forty minutes ago.

In 2017, during Park Geun-hye's impeachment trial, the National Assembly's team spoke for 1 hour and 14 minutes, while Park's defense stretched their argument to 5 hours and 10 minutes, with 15 different speakers.

wait,

Right then what happens once today's hearing ends?

Presiding Justice Jeong Hyung-sik will present his review before all eight justices vote for or against impeachment.

The ruling will be drafted based on the majority opinion.

If the presiding justice holds a minority view, another justice from the majority will be assigned to draft the decision.

The Court will then decide the date to announce the verdict, which is expected within two weeks after the last hearing, likely around mid-March.

If six or more of the eight justices vote in favor of impeachment, President Yoon will be removed from office, triggering a snap presidential election within 60 days.

However, if at least three justices oppose impeachment, the motion will be dismissed, and Yoon will immediately resume his duties.

So while the court decides on whether to reinstate or to remove the president public rallies continue I hear?

Yes. With today marking the last hearing, large gatherings have been expected so the area around the Constitutional Court has been closed off for public order and safety since 1 PM.

Some 38-hundred police officers are patrolling the area in Jongno-gu District, the largest mobilization since President Yoon first started attending his hearings.

Also, 190 buses are blocking paths to the Court.

Around 1-thousand have gathered in the next street to oppose Yoon's impeachment, shortly before the hearing began.

All right Soo-young thank you for the latest on the final hearing of the impeachment trial against the president.