Final Impeachment Hearing

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The Constitutional Court on Monday heard the final arguments in the impeachment trial of President Park Geun-hye. Here's a summary of the last hearing in this case as we look ahead to the ruling.

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President Park Geun-hye's defense team and the National Assembly's impeachment panel were in a war of nerves even before entering the courtroom.

[Soundbite] Rep. Kwon Seong-dong(Nat'l Assembly Impeachment Panel) : "It is a heavy responsibility to carry out the public's order and impeach the president."

[Soundbite] Lee Joong-hwan(Pres. Park's Defense Team) : "We believe there is no evidence to support impeachment. We will await a positive outcome."

The two sides shook hands and greeted each other as they have always done but once the hearing began, they faced off fiercely. Making his closing argument, Rep. Kwon Seong-dong of the Assembly's impeachment team teared up briefly at one point, overwhelmed by emotion. Four lawmakers from the Assembly panel made statements compared to 15 lawyers from President Park's defense team who took turns delivering their final arguments. President Park did not appear in court but in a 20 minute statement read by her attorney Lee Dong-heub, she denied all the grounds cited for her impeachment. She said she had never received or accepted illegitimate requests for favors, and never acquired any kind of illegal benefits. Park also denied having abused her authority as president for the interest of herself or any other individual. Having concluded the final hearing on Monday, the Constitutional Court will from Tuesday proceed with a deliberation attended by all eight court justices.