South Korea's Yoon remains defiant as the court begins a review of the trial Government Affairs

The Constitutional Court will hold its first public hearing on December 27 as Yoon announces his delegation.

Ousted South Korean President Yoon Suk-yeol has defied investigators seeking answers over his failure to declare martial law, as the country's Constitutional Court begins a similar process to decide whether he should be removed from office.

Prosecutors issued Yoon a second summons on Monday to investigate him on charges of treason and abuse of power after he “refused to comply” with a similar request on Sunday.

The Joint Investigation Unit also requested that the suspended president appear to answer questions on Wednesday but his office was dismissed, according to Yonhap news agency.

Investigators can seek a court-issued arrest warrant if he continues to refuse.

Yoon was impeached in South Korea's parliament on Saturday for his short-lived efforts to stop the people's rule.

Attempts to declare martial law plunged the country into its worst political turmoil in years, forcing the resignation of several officials, including the leader of the ruling Yoon Party, Han Dong-hoon, who announced on Monday that he would step down.

New elections must be held within two months if Yoon's removal is upheld by the Constitutional Court. Prime Minister Han Duck-soo serves as interim leader in Yoon's place.

On Monday, the court began reviewing Yoon's impeachment.

A public hearing has begun on December 27, said court spokesperson Lee Jean at a press conference on Monday, after six judges met to discuss plans to review the trial.

The court has up to six months to decide on the case.

Yoon is not required to attend that hearing, Lee said.

Yoon announced his legal team on Monday, naming longtime prosecutor Kim Hong-il as his chief legal representative, News1 agency reported.

In 2017, the court took three months to issue a decision to impeach then-president Park Geun-hye following charges of abuse of power in her office.

International obligations

As the Constitutional Court and prosecutors continue the legal process, the government led by the acting president, Han, is moving quickly to reassure international partners and ease the financial markets of one of the world's 20 largest economies.

On Monday morning, the finance minister, the governor of the Bank of Korea and senior financial regulators met and pledged to monitor the financial and foreign exchange markets around the clock.

The benchmark Korea Composite Stock Price Index rose for a fifth straight session on Monday and traded at its highest levels in more than two weeks as authorities promised to stabilize financial markets and analysts noted that political uncertainty had eased.

In one of his first steps as acting president, Han spoke with United States President Joe Biden by phone on Sunday, pledging an unwavering commitment to pursuing foreign and security policies based on the alliance between the two countries.

China also pledged to push for a “healthy and stable” relationship with Seoul.

“South Korea is China's important neighbor and friendly cooperation partner,” the Foreign Ministry said in Beijing on Monday.

Last week, Yoon angered China when he said the opposition blocked him from strengthening anti-espionage laws that he said could be used to punish Chinese nationals accused of spying for South Korea's defense and intelligence services.

Beijing said it was “deeply surprised and dissatisfied” by Yoon's comments.