S. Korea: Final hearing of Yoon's impeachment trial to be held next week; verdict likely in mid-March

The hearing has been set for 2 p.m. Tuesday, and the legal teams of the National Assembly and Yoon will each be asked to present their closing arguments, while the parliament and the president will each be asked to give their final statements, acting court President Moon Hyung-bae said during the 10th hearing.

The date of the final hearing increases the chances of a verdict in mid-March, as former Presidents Roh Moo-hyun and Park Geun-hye received their impeachment rulings about two weeks after their final hearings.

The court will decide whether to remove Yoon from office or reinstate him following his impeachment by the National Assembly over his short-lived imposition of martial law in December.

Yoon has been accused of violating the Constitution and laws by declaring martial law without valid grounds.

The president has countered that his action was a legitimate act of governance meant to send a warning to opposition parties over what he described as their abuse of legislative power.

Yoon's lawyer, Seok Dong-hyeon, relayed a message from the president at a rally of his supporters in central Seoul.

"I will quickly return to duty and lead the Republic of Korea with the power of intergenerational unity," he was quoted as saying.

If Yoon is ousted, the country will be required to hold a snap presidential election within 60 days.

At Thursday's hearing, the court heard testimony from three witnesses -- impeached Prime Minister Han Duck-soo; Hong Jang-won, former first deputy director of the National Intelligence Service; and Cho Ji-ho, commissioner general of the National Police Agency.

Han said he and other Cabinet members were concerned about Yoon's martial law plan and attempted to dissuade him before he announced it on Dec. 3.

"As I recall, all (Cabinet members) were concerned and tried to dissuade him," Han said, referring to a hastily arranged meeting of some Cabinet ministers shortly before Yoon's surprise imposition of martial law.

When asked about former Defense Minister Kim Yong-hyun's testimony that some members were in favor of Yoon's plan, Han replied, "From what I recall, that was not the case at all."

Hong, the former intelligence official, was grilled by Yoon's lawyers about the credibility of a memo he claims to have taken during a phone call with a military commander on the night of Dec. 3 to list the politicians and others the president allegedly wanted arrested.

Cho, the police chief, declined to answer most questions, citing his own criminal trial on insurrection charges related to the martial law bid.

Earlier it was reported that impeached President Yoon Suk Yeol had appeared for the first preliminary hearing of his criminal trial Thursday on charges of leading an insurrection, making him the nation's first sitting president to stand criminal trial.