South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol is set to make his final defense on Tuesday as the Constitutional Court wraps up public hearings in his impeachment trial. The eight-judge panel will determine whether to remove Yoon from office after parliament impeached him on December 3 for declaring martial law without constitutional justification.

Yoon has argued that his actions were not meant to impose full military rule but rather to caution against what he claims was the opposition Democratic Party’s abuse of its parliamentary majority. However, critics say his decision demonstrated poor judgment in handling national crises, fueling concerns that he could resort to similar measures if reinstated.

The final hearing, scheduled for 2 p.m. (0500 GMT), will feature closing statements from Yoon and Jung Chung-rae, chairman of parliament’s judiciary committee. The court is expected to deliberate for several days before issuing a ruling.

Yoon’s martial law decree, which lasted just six hours before he rescinded it, imposed a temporary ban on political and parliamentary activities, triggering a constitutional crisis. The turmoil led to the impeachment of the acting president and prime minister, placing the finance minister in charge of the country.

Adding to the complexity of the case, Yoon is currently being held at the Seoul Detention Centre on separate criminal charges of leading an insurrection, making him the first sitting South Korean president to face a criminal trial.

The Constitutional Court has until June 14—six months from the case’s formal registration—to deliver its verdict. However, in a precedent-setting case, former President Park Geun-hye was removed from office in 2017 just 11 days after final arguments in her impeachment trial.

If Yoon is ousted, South Korea will be required to hold a new presidential election within 60 days.