Impeachment Trial

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We begin with impeachment deliberations at the Constitutional Court. As the first step in determining the fate of President Park Geun-hye, the court will hold a preparatory meeting on Thursday. Here’s more.

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The Constitutional Court will hold the first preparatory hearing on the impeachment of President Park Geun-hye on Thursday. Three judges will preside over the hearing with representatives of the president and a parliamentary impeachment committee in attendance. The preparatory procedures to discuss key issues and the selection of evidence and witnesses before main trial hearings are held. An overwhelming view is that more preparatory hearings will be held, given that there are many issues to discuss.

[Soundbite] Bae Bo-yoon(PR officer, Constitutional Court) : "Judges will designate the date, based on developments in preparatory hearings and opinions from the two concerned parties."

Another variable is whether the Constitutional Court will be able to receive investigation records from prosecutors and independent counsel's team, as it has requested. The president's side filed an objection against the court's move, which it said a violation of the Constitutional Court law. The court will announce its conclusion on the objection at the preparatory hearing on Thursday.