Court to push ahead with hearing despite Yoon's repeated refusal to accept documents

The Constitutional Court of Korea said on Dec 23 that it would hold a preparatory hearing on Dec 27 as planned, despite President Yoon Suk Yeol's continued refusal to accept court orders.

SEOUL - The Constitutional Court of Korea said on Dec 23 that it would hold a preparatory hearing on Dec 27 as planned, despite President Yoon Suk Yeol's continued refusal to accept court orders.

The court, which must deliver a final decision on his impeachment within 180 days, said the six justices had decided to consider Mr. Yoon as having received the written requests on Dec 20.

"Based on the civil procedure Article 187 and criminal procedure Article 61, Clause 2, the written requests can be considered 'received' when those documents arrive at the recipient's address, regardless of acceptance or rejection," court press officer Lee Jin told the media in a briefing on Dec 23.

The court added that it sent three documents. The first was a notice of Mr. Yoon's trial registration, to which was attached a copy of an impeachment Bill and a statement for him to prove his case.

The next was a notice on the hearing dates, to which was attached a request to show up at the court at a designated date.

The last document was a court order for him to prepare his statement of opinion and hand in evidence such as Cabinet meeting minutes.

The deadline for him to submit such documents was Dec 24.