South Korean President Park Geun-hye failed to show up to her impeachment trial Tuesday and will not do so in the future, The New York Times reported.
South Korea's nine-member Constitutional Court formally opened the trial against Park, who prosecutors say used her power to help a longtime friend extort $69 million from some of South Korea's biggest conglomerates, including Hyundai and Samsung, and use the funds for personal expenses.
Choi was arrested on extortion charges in November. Park was impeached in December by South Korean lawmakers and stripped of her presidential powers, though she has immunity from criminal charges and is still allowed to stay in the Blue House.
The Court has until June to agree to the impeachment. If Park does not show Wednesday, the court can move forward without her, as she cannot be compelled to testify.
Lee Joong-hwan, a lawyer for the president, said Park would make her case through her attorneys, The Times reported.
"She won't appear in court unless there is an exceptionally special reason to do so," Lee said.
Park's alleged involvement in the extortion has angered residents of South Korea who were already unhappy with the way she handled the ferry sinking in 2014 that claimed the lives of 300 people.
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