Anchor: The Constitutional Court has launched proceedings for a trial on the impeachment of President Yoon Suk Yeol. Following a meeting of its six justices on Monday, the court said it is scheduling a pretrial conference for next week.
Kim Bum-soo has more.
Report: Proceedings for President Yoon Suk Yeol's impeachment trial is set to begin with the Constitutional Court of Korea scheduling a pretrial conference at 2 p.m Friday, next week.
The top court on Monday announced the plan following a meeting of its six justices earlier in the day.
The court wants to get a grip on factual details of the case during the pretrial conference, seeking to secure what law enforcement agencies will find out by then.
Justice Cheong Hyung-sik was chosen to preside over the case by way of a computerized random drawing. Known for his conservative views, he is the only constitutional court justice that was nominated by President Yoon.
While Article 23 of the Constitutional Act says the full bench shall review a case by and with the attendance of seven or more justices, three seats of the nine-member court are currently vacant.
In an ongoing impeachment trial for Lee Jin-sook, the head of South Korea's broadcast watchdog, the article had been rendered ineffective following her call for an injunction, and under the existing bench, consent from all six justices is needed for the impeachment to be upheld.
However, amid growing concerns over the authority of the six-member bench, the ruling and opposition parties are currently working on arranging confirmation hearings for three constitutional court justice nominees, possibly as early as next week.
The National Assembly on Saturday voted to impeach President Yoon Suk Yeol for his failed martial law attempt on December 3.
The parliamentary decision suspended Yoon's executive authorities, leaving the fate of his presidency to the Constitutional Court.
The constitutional court hearings are open to the public but the president is not obligated to show up for the pretrial conference.
The constitutional court said that it will place the utmost priority on deliberating Yoon's case among other pending impeachments.
Kim Bum-soo, KBS World Radio News.