ISLAMABAD/ISTANBUL

South Korea's Constitutional Court heard President Yoon Suk Yeol's impeachment trial on Thursday and adjourned it until next week, contrary to expectations that it would be the case's final hearing.

The ninth formal hearing will begin at 2 p.m. local time (0500GMT) on Tuesday, with arguments from Yoon and the National Assembly's sides for two hours each, Yonhap news agency reported.

The court will also "examine evidence that was adopted but not examined today," acting court President Moon Hyung-bae said during the court's eighth hearing.

He did not say whether additional hearings could be scheduled after the ninth or when they would conclude, according to the media outlet.

Yoon's side has requested the presence of six additional witnesses, including Prime Minister Han Duck-soo and National Police Agency Commissioner General Cho Ji-ho. A meeting of justices is scheduled for Friday, where they will decide whether to accept the request.

If additional witnesses are called, more hearings may be required, pushing the court's decision on Yoon's impeachment to mid-March.

Otherwise, the court could issue its decision in early March.

Earlier, the imprisoned president appeared in court on Thursday for the eighth hearing in his impeachment trial over his brief declaration of martial law last December. He was accompanied by other witnesses, including National Intelligence Service Director Cho Tae-yong.

On Tuesday, Yoon accused the main opposition, the Democratic Party, of trying to “destroy” his government, defending his Dec. 3 martial law decree. He had previously cited alleged election fraud as a reason for the declaration of martial law, which was overturned by the parliament after several hours.

Yoon is under criminal investigation for abuse of power and leading an insurrection, making him the first sitting South Korean president to be arrested. He is also subject to a travel ban.

Suspended from office since Dec. 14, when parliament voted for his impeachment, Yoon’s case is now before the Constitutional Court, which has up to six months to decide whether to remove him from office or reinstate him.