Today is the day to prepare for the first hearing of the impeachment trial...President Yoon's possible non-attendance

[Anchor]
The preparatory date for the first hearing of President Yoon Suk Yeol's impeachment trial will be held at the Constitutional Court at 2 p.m. today (27th).

The possibility of President Yoon's absence from all impeachment documents is being discussed, and attention is being paid to whether there will be a separate statement of position.

Reporter Kwon Junsu's report.

[Reporter]
President Yoon Suk Yeol, who said he would fulfill his legal responsibilities in the December 12 statement, continues to go against his promise to the people.

The Constitutional Court has not submitted any documents requested by the Constitutional Court until just before the hearing preparation date to organize the issues of the impeachment trial and plan the hearing.    

The Constitutional Court held a meeting of judges to discuss countermeasures against unprecedented situations, including how to deliver documents in the future.  

[Lee Jin / Constitutional Court Press Officer: There is no document received from the respondent. At a meeting of the justices in the morning, the justices reported the progress of the case and how to respond, and the full bench shared awareness of the situation and how to respond.

The Constitutional Court believes that there is no problem with the six-judge hearing, and plans to proceed with the first hearing preparation date as scheduled.

The National Assembly's impeachment investigation team is also preparing for nine key suspects, including former Defense Minister Kim Yong-hyun, as witnesses.

On the other hand, it is difficult to rule out the possibility of not attending as President Yoon's side is consistent with a defensive attitude, such as not even issuing an agent's power of attorney.

Even if President Yoon's side does not come out, the Constitutional Court is expected to hear from the National Assembly's representatives first and then re-designate the preparation date and ask President Yoon to appear again.    

[Kim Hyung-doo / Constitutional Judge: If we judge that more preparation procedures are needed after proper judgment, we will designate another date.]

It seems to be increasing from the preparatory stage before the full-fledged defense against the blatant delay operation, and President Yoon also hinted at a plan to announce his position outside the court.

[Seok Dong-hyun / Legal Counsel for President of Yoon Suk Yeol (last 24th): After Christmas, the president and the lawyers will take a position.... After the 26th....]

In the meantime, the Constitutional Court reaffirmed its principled position on the completion of the nine-member system, saying that acting Han Deok-soo could appoint all three candidates for the Constitutional Court.

I'm YTN Kwon Junsu.