The Constitutional Court has denied President Yoon Suk Yeol’s request to postpone the second formal hearing in his impeachment trial, set for Thursday.

The court announced the decision Thursday morning in a press briefing, saying the court decided not to accept the request, noting that the argument put forth by Yoon’s legal team did not constitute sufficient grounds for a delay. 

Yoon’s defense team filed the request Wednesday, saying Yoon could not appear for Thursday’s hearing as he had been arrested and questioned for hours into the night by the Corruption Investigation Office for High-Ranking Officials(CIO). 

Yoon did not attend the first formal hearing on Tuesday, citing concerns about his safety ahead of a second attempt by the CIO to arrest him.

According to the law, the Constitutional Court can proceed with deliberations with or without the president’s attendance starting from the second hearing.