South Korea’s ousted President Yoon Suk Yeol attended what could be his last impeachment hearing on Thursday before judges decide whether to formally remove him from office over his martial law decree.
The former prosecutor has remained defiant throughout weeks of hearings at Seoul’s Constitutional Court, blaming a “malicious” opposition for his December bid to suspend civilian rule.
The attempt only lasted six hours as the opposition-led parliament voted the declaration down and later impeached him over the move.
Yoon was detained last month on insurrection charges, becoming the first sitting South Korean head of state to be arrested.
Thursday’s hearing was widely expected — but not officially confirmed — to be Yoon’s last before the judges go behind closed doors to deliberate upholding his impeachment.
Prosecutors said the “time was ripe” for the case to be decided and they would “humbly await the outcome of the impeachment trial”.
But Yoon’s lawyer Yoon Kap-keun told the hearing that the ousted president’s trial “continues to be conducted in an unlawful and unfair manner”.
His legal team also warned they would “make a serious decision” if that persists, though they did not specify what action would be taken.
Following the trial, the process could take up to a fortnight.
Previously impeached presidents Park Geun-hye and Roh Moo-hyun had to wait 11 and 14 days, respectively, to learn their fates.