The first hearing for President Yoon Suk Yeol's impeachment trial takes place at the Constitutional Court in Jongno District, Seoul, Tuesday. Joint Press Corps

President Yoon Suk Yeol's impeachment trial at the Constitutional Court got off to a rocky start as the first formal hearing on Tuesday ended after just four minutes due to his absence.

The hearing, which started at 2 p.m., concluded shortly after confirming the attendance of representatives for both parties. Yoon's defense team and the legal representatives of the National Assembly's impeachment investigation committee, acting as the prosecution, were present.

The court said the second hearing, set for 2 p.m. on Thursday, will proceed even if the embattled leader fails to show up.

Although Yoon is expected to attend the hearings, his presence is not compulsory. Under relevant laws, the second and subsequent hearings may proceed without his attendance.

After the second session, three additional hearings are scheduled for Jan. 21, 23 and Feb. 4

Yoon's attorney, Yoon Kap-keun, said earlier that the president will skip the first session, citing security concerns and the possibility of detention. The president, who has been suspended from performing his duties, has barricaded himself inside his heavily guarded residence in Seoul as investigators prepare to execute a detention warrant over insurrection charges.

The first hearing came after Yoon was impeached by the National Assembly on Dec. 14 last year over his brief martial law declaration earlier that month. Separately, he is under criminal investigation for insurrection charges related to the emergency military rule, which lasted for only six hours due to pushback from parliament.

Justice Jung Gye-sun attends the first hearing for President Yoon Suk Yeol's impeachment trial at the Constitutional Court in Jongno District, Seoul, Tuesday. Joint Press Corps

During Tuesday's session, the Constitutional Court dismissed a petition filed by Yoon's lawyers seeking to remove Justice Jung Gye-sun.

"This was a unanimous decision made by the remaining seven justices," acting Chief Justice Moon Hyung-bae said.

Yoon's defense team had argued that Jung's affiliation with a progressive-leaning group of justices and her husband's affiliation with public lawfirm GongGam — whose chairman is part of the National Assembly's impeachment legal team — raise doubts about her neutrality.

The court also dismissed another objection from Yoon's legal team regarding the scheduling of five hearings simultaneously, which they argued compromised the president's right to a proper defense.

Moon said the scheduling was fully in line with the constitutional law and the relevant articles.

President Yoon Suk Yeol's attorney, Yoon Gap-keun, attends the first impeachment trial hearing at the Constitutional Court in Seoul, Tuesday. Joint Press Corps

The president's lawyers expressed discontent with the court's decision.

"I deeply regret that the court dismissed the petition for the recusal (of Jung) without a valid reason. This is neither based on legal principles nor in line with fairness and common sense," the attorney told reporters following the hearing.

Lim Ji-bong, a constitutional law professor at Sogang University, described the defense team's filing of multiple petitions as a deliberate strategy to delay the trial and buy time until the political climate becomes more favorable for Yoon.

"Their petitions lack legal grounds, as demonstrated by the court's swift dismissal. Yoon's defense team, which consists largely of former prosecutors specializing in criminal law, seems to lack thorough knowledge of constitutional law and proceedings," Lim told The Korea Times.

"Their calls to recuse Justice Jung lacked reasoning as members of the progressive-leaning justices' group have served on the bench before without issues. There have been no cases where the court accepted a petition for the recusal of a certain justice," the professor added.

Yoon's absence from Tuesday's hearing has also drawn backlash, with critics viewing the move as inconsistent with his earlier stance of confronting the consequences of his actions.

In a public address on Dec. 12 last year, the president vowed not to shirk legal or political responsibilities arising from his imposition of martial law and promised to "face the consequences," whether he is impeached or investigated.

People hold a press conference near the Constitutional Court in Seoul, Tuesday, calling on the court to uphold President Yoon Suk Yeol's impeachment. Yonhap