South Korea’s Constitutional Court has convened its first hearing to decide whether suspended President Yoon Suk Yeol should be permanently removed from office following his controversial martial law attempt last month. The session, however, concluded in just four minutes due to Yoon’s absence. His lawyers had earlier stated that he would not attend the hearing, citing concerns for his safety as a warrant for his arrest on separate insurrection charges remains active.

President Yoon was suspended in December when members of his own party joined the opposition in a parliamentary vote to impeach him. For the impeachment to be upheld, at least six of the court's eight justices must rule in favor of his removal. South Korean law requires the court to set a new date for proceedings if the accused does not participate. The next hearing is scheduled for Thursday.

Yoon’s legal team has suggested that he might attend the hearing at a more “appropriate time” but criticized the court’s “unilateral decision” to set the current trial dates. On Tuesday, the court dismissed their request to recuse one of the eight justices from the case. Meanwhile, Yoon has refrained from making public statements since his impeachment on December 14, opting instead to communicate through his lawyers.

Separately, investigators are preparing for another attempt to arrest Yoon on charges of insurrection. The first attempt, on January 3, ended in a tense standoff between law enforcement and his security detail. Local media reports indicate that a second bid to detain him could happen as soon as this week. Yoon’s arrest, if it happens, would mark the first time a sitting South Korean president faces such an action.

Yoon’s declaration of martial law on December 3 has plunged South Korea into a deep political crisis. He claimed that the move was necessary to protect the nation from “anti-state” elements, but critics argue it was an attempt to deflect attention from his own political difficulties. The fallout from this decision led to the impeachment of both Yoon and Prime Minister Han Duck-soo, who now serves as acting president.

The turmoil has taken a toll on South Korea’s economy. The national currency, the won, has weakened, and global credit rating agencies have warned of declining consumer and business confidence. The situation echoes the impeachment trials of former presidents Roh Moo-hyun in 2004 and Park Geun-hye in 2017, both of whom also chose not to attend their hearings. Notably, Park’s first trial session ended after nine minutes due to her absence. While Roh was reinstated following a two-month review, Park’s impeachment was upheld, serving as a precedent for the high stakes in Yoon’s ongoing trial.

Disclaimer:This image is taken from Reuters.