South Korea looks set for a dramatic political showdown this week as impeachment proceedings kick off against suspended President Yoon Suk Yeol, who remains holed up in his fortified residence evading arrest for a separate criminal investigation.

South Korea's constitutional court has held its first hearing to decide if suspended President Yoon Suk Yeol should be removed from office after his shock martial law attempt last month.

The first hearing for South Korea's President Yoon Suk Yeol's impeachment trial ended in just four minutes - as Yoon was not in attendance. After the hearing, Yoon's lawyers told media outside the court that they will decide on whether Yoon would attend the next hearing or not after reviewing the circumstances of the evidence request and the methods of evidence verification.