Court begins review of Yoon's impeachment

SEOUL South Korea's Constitutional Court on Dec 16 began reviewing the impeachment of President Yoon Suk Yeol over his Dec 3 martial law attempt, starting a process to decide if he will be removed from office, while investigators plan to question him this week on criminal charges.

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The court will hold the first public hearing on Dec 27, spokeswoman Lee Jean told a news conference, after the court's six justices met to discuss plans for reviewing the impeachment by the opposition-controlled Parliament on Dec 14.

The court has up to six months to decide whether to remove Mr Yoon from office or to reinstate him. The first hearing will be "preparatory" to confirm major legal issues of the case and schedule, among other matters, Ms Lee said.

Mr Yoon is not required to attend that hearing, she added.

He and a number of senior officials face potential charges of insurrection for the short-lived martial law.

A joint team of investigators from the police, the Defence Ministry and an anti-corruption agency are planning to call Mr Yoon in for questioning on Dec 18, a police official told Reuters.