South Korea begins impeachment trial of suspended President Yoon Suk Yeol in high-stakes political showdown

Former President Yoon Suk Yeol failed to appear at his impeachment trial on the first scheduled hearing. He has been stripped of his presidential powers after being suspended and impeached last month. The Constitutional Court is now responsible for deciding whether to formally remove or reinstate Yoon. The court has five months to make a decision. Yoon directed soldiers to storm parliament in an attempt to prevent lawmakers from voting on his suspension of civilian rule, but the attempt was unsuccessful.