South Korea's Constitutional Court has begun hearings on the removal of suspended President Eun Suk-yeol after issuing 'martial law' last month. But due to Yoon's absence, the first hearing was over in four minutes, according to South Korean officials.

Yoon's lawyers announced before the hearing that he would be absent for his own safety . The South Korean court has issued an arrest warrant against Yun.

On December 3, Yun was suspended by parliament after unexpectedly imposing martial law. After that step, the MPs of his own party also voted in the impeachment motion registered by the opposition party.

But the constitutional court will make the final decision on the issue of his dismissal. He will formally step down if at least six members of the eight-member court support the impeachment . 

According to South Korean law, the court will now have to set a new date for the hearing without Yoon's presence. According to the BBC, the next hearing is scheduled for Thursday.

Yoon's lawyers have announced that he will appear for the hearing in due course. But it is said that they have challenged the unilateral decision of the court regarding the hearing date. On Tuesday, the court rejected a request by the lawyers to remove one of the eight judges from the hearing process.

Yoon has not made any public comments since parliament voted to impeach him on December 14. Since then he has been speaking through his leading lawyers .