Former President Yoon Seok-yeol Appears in Court on Insurrection Charges After Skipping Eleven Hearings

Former President Yoon Seok-yeol appeared in court for the first time in 85 days, attending his formal trial after being additionally indicted by the special prosecutor’s team on charges of leading an insurrection.

The trial, presided over by Chief Judge Baek Dae-hyun of the 35th Criminal Division at the Seoul Central District Court, began at 10:15 a.m. on the 26th.

Yoon left Seoul Detention Center at 8:35 a.m. and arrived at the courthouse at 9:40 a.m. He waited in the court detention cell before entering the courtroom. This marked his first court appearance since his trial for insurrection leadership on July 3. Since being re-detained by the special prosecution, Yoon had failed to appear in court for eleven consecutive hearings, citing health issues.

In the courtroom, Yoon wore a navy blue suit without a tie. He appeared somewhat gaunt, with visibly greying hair, and wore a badge labeled “3617” on the left side of his chest, signifying his inmate number.

It was reported that Yoon was handcuffed and secured with a safety rope while being transported from the detention center, but these restraints were removed before he entered the courtroom for proceedings to begin.

During the defendant identification process, Judge Baek asked Yoon for his date of birth and address. Yoon quietly responded, “December 8, 1960, Acrovista unit OO.”

Yoon stated that he did not wish for a jury trial, which allows citizens to participate in the determination of guilt or innocence.

With permission from the court, one minute of video and photographs was allowed before the formal trial commenced. In an unprecedented move, the main proceedings were also permitted to be broadcast, with the footage to be made available online after personal identification information is anonymized.

While the sentencing of former presidents Park Geun-hye and Lee Myung-bak was previously broadcast live, this marks the first time a lower court trial—not just sentencing—has been made available to the public. However, bail hearings will not be broadcast.

Yoon faces charges including obstructing the execution of a warrant for his arrest, infringing on the deliberation and voting rights related to martial law of nine Cabinet members who were absent from a pre-announcement meeting, and creating and subsequently destroying the martial law proclamation after the fact.

Currently, Yoon is undergoing a bail review process and will remain in custody pending a decision.

Public interest in the hearing was intense, with nearly all 150 seats in the courtroom's gallery occupied.

Note “This article was translated from the original Korean version using AI assistance, and subsequently edited by a native-speaking journalist.”

Photo=Yonhap News