President Yoon Suk Yeol speaks in this Nov. 7, 2024 photo. Yonhap

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.

"The president plans to attend on an appropriate date and state his position," Yun Gap-geun, Yoon's legal counsel, said in a message to reporters.

Yun's message 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 take place prior to the start of the formal proceedings. Yoon did not attend the preparatory sessions.

If he does not appear for the first hearing, the court can reschedule the date. The court will move on with the proceedings if he fails to appear at the trial for the second time.

Since Yoon was suspended from his duties following the impeachment, he has stated through his defense team that he will focus on the impeachment trial.

Yoon has refused to comply with all summonses and other procedures requested by the law enforcement agencies investigating the martial law case, with his presidential security service blocking investigators' attempt Friday to execute the court warrant to detain Yoon. (Yonhap)