The National Assembly voted Saturday to impeach Yoon following 10 days of political turmoil sparked by his short-lived declaration of martial law on Dec. 3. Yoon's powers were suspended, and Prime Minister Han Duck-soo assumed the role of acting president. The court is required to deliver its verdict within 180 days.
On Monday, the court held its first meeting on the impeachment trial and scheduled the initial preparatory hearing for 2 p.m. on Dec. 27.
While the hearing will be open to the public, the president is not required to attend.
Justice Cheong Hyung-sik, appointed by Yoon last December, has been named the lead justice for the case through a computerized random selection process, legal sources said.
At least six of the nine judges on the court must approve the impeachment motion. Since only six of the court's nine seats are currently filled, a unanimous agreement among the sitting justices is required to uphold Yoon's impeachment.
If the court upholds the National Assembly's decision, Yoon will become the second South Korean president to be removed from office by impeachment, following Park Geun-hye's ouster in 2017.
Park, the nation's first female president, was later jailed for bribery and abuse of power in a corruption scandal involving her confidante.
In 2004, President Roh Moo-hyun was impeached by parliament over alleged election law violations. However, the Constitutional Court reinstated him.
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