Impeachment Trial

[Anchor Lead]

The Constitutional Court has begun its deliberations on the impeachment of President Park Geun-hye. The court said that it will hold to the principle of reviewing all grounds for impeaching the president presented by the National Assembly.

[Pkg]

Judges convened their first meeting since the case on the impeachment of President Park Geun-hye was submitted. The Constitutional Court announced the principle that it will review all 18 reasons for impeaching the president, which were stated by the National Assembly. The court explained that it is impossible to selectively review impeachment reasons without concerned parties' agreement, as impeachment deliberations must be based on the principle of party presentation and argumentation. It is a dismissal of some people's opinion that a selective review will help the court deliver a quick ruling. The Constitutional Court will designate judges in charge, including a chief judge, after receiving the president's written refutation on December 16th. The judges will then receive presentations each from the National Assembly and the president, and discuss the issue of consent to evidence and set schedules to argue the case.

[Soundbite] Bae Bo-yoon(Public Relations Officer, Constitutional Court) : "Two or three judges, including a chief judge, will be designated next week, once the president's refutation is submitted."

The court said that it needs to make preparations for the deliberations, as there are many issues to discuss this time, unlike the case of former President Roh Moo-hyun who was impeached for relatively simple reasons 12 years ago.