The impeachment trial of South Korea’s suspended president, Yoon Suk Yeol is set to begin on Tuesday.
The nation's constitutional court will decide whether to strip him of his presidential duties over a failed martial law bid on December 3 which caused South the worst political crisis in decades for South Korea.
As part of the attempt Yoon directed soldiers to storm parliament in to stop lawmakers voting down his suspension of civilian rule and was impeached soon after and suspended from duty.
Since then Yoon has shuttered himself inside the presidential residence since, and refused summonses from investigators while using his presidential security team to resist arrest.
The trial’s first out of five hearings will begin on Tuesday afternoon, with the other four due to take place on January 16, 21 and 23, and February 4.
During the hearings the court will is likely to weigh in on two issues; whether Yoon’s martial law declaration was constitutional and, if not, whether it amounted to insurrection.
Yoon’s legal team confirmed he would not appear at the first hearing, citing safety concerns, but that he would be willing to appear at a later date if security issues were sorted.