Constitutional Court considers Yoon’s impeachment trial documents as ‘delivered’

Dec 24, 2024, 10:04 am

AsiaToday reporter Lim Sang-hyuk

As President Yoon Suk-yeol continues to refuse to receive documents related to the impeachment trial, the Constitutional Court has decided to consider the documents as delivered. As a result, regardless of whether or not Yoon’s legal agent is appointed, the court will hold the first preparatory hearing in Yoon’s impeachment trial on Friday as planned. Yoon’s side said the president will prioritize his impeachment trial over the ongoing investigations into the martial law imposition.

“We sent documents related to the impeachment trial to President Yoon Suk-yeol on Dec. 19,” the Constitutional Court said in a briefing on Monday. “As per Supreme Court precedents, the effectiveness of the document delivery takes effect the moment the documents reach the intended delivery address. The delivery is considered valid even if the recipient does not physically accept it. Therefore, documents on Yoon’s impeachment trial, delivered via postal service to his residence last Friday, are considered valid,” the court said.

Both the National Assembly’s and President Yoon’s sides will proceed even if no representative is appointed. “The first preparatory hearing will be held Friday as planned,” the court said.

As a result of the court decision, President Yoon must submit his response by Friday, when the first preparatory hearing for his impeachment trial takes place.

The Constitutional Court had previously requested Yoon to submit the minutes of the martial law related Cabinet meeting and decree No. 1 by Tuesday. However, the court explained that there will be no change in the deadline, and that the trial process can proceed even if the requested documents are not submitted.

President Yoon’s side expressed its willingness to respond, saying, “The president will put more priority on the impeachment trial than the criminal investigation.”

#Constitutional Court #Yoon Suk-yeol #impeachment trial