Park Geun-hye hesitant to testify in court

President Park Geun-hye has not decided whether to attend the Constitutional Court’s final hearing to defend herself.

She may be hesitant because her appearance can no longer be used as a tactic to delay proceedings, with the court determined to close the tri- al this month. Facing the National Assembly panel’s questions, she may also have to expose her difficulty speaking publicly without a script.

Park’s attorneys said Park had not yet decided whether to attend the last hearing. The court delayed the final hearing from Friday to Monday and told Park’s lawyers to notify it of her decision by Sunday.

If Park attends, she will be the first head of state to testify at the Constitutional Court.

Her defense team earlier recommended she appear and tell the public her account of why the impeachment is improper. The hearing could be her last chance to do so because the independent counsel-led investigation team may not be able to question her as its probe period expires Tuesday.

The attorneys also planned to use Park’s attendance as a delaying tactic by asking the court to hold further hearings because acting court President Lee Jung-mi’s retirement on March 13 will raise Park’s chance to avoid an ouster. But the court said the President should follow its hearing schedule, showing a strong will not to allow any delays.