Seoul: President Yoon Suk Yeol plans to testify at his impeachment trial before the Constitutional Court regarding his failed attempt to impose martial law early last month, Yoon’s lawyer said Sunday. The top court has set the dates to hold five court hearings for Yoon’s impeachment trial until early February, with the first hearing scheduled to take place Jan. 14. The other four sessions are due on Jan. 16, 21, and 23, and Feb. 4.

According to Yonhap News Agency, Yun Gap-geun, Yoon’s legal counsel, communicated in a message to reporters that “the president plans to attend on an appropriate date and state his position.” This statement suggests that the president may be present at the first hearing. Under the law regarding Constitutional Court proceedings, the president must attend the hearings, while his presence is not required for the preparatory hearings that occur prior to the start of the formal proceedings. Yoon did not attend the preparatory sessions.

If President Yoon does not appear for the first hearing, the court can reschedule the date. The court will proceed with the trial if he fails to appear for the second time. Since his suspension from duties following the impeachment, Yoon has expressed through his defense team that he will concentrate on the impeachment trial.

Yoon has consistently refused to comply with all summonses and other procedures requested by the law enforcement agencies investigating the martial law case. His presidential security service recently blocked investigators’ attempts to execute a court warrant to detain Yoon, demonstrating the ongoing tension surrounding the trial.