Sangcheol’s Legal Journal : YouLaw Insights

  🗓️ Hearing Overview Date & Time: Monday, August 18, 2025, 10:15 (KST) Venue: Seoul Central District Court, Criminal Division 25 ( Presiding Judge Ji Gui-yeon ) Defendant: Former President Yoon Suk-yeol (absent for the 5th consecutive time; proceedings held in absentia) Witness: Sgt. Lee Min-su , Republic of Korea Army ( Capital Defense Command ) — driver/NCO assigned to then-Commander Lee Jin-woo (command vehicle operator) 1) Key Issues & Proceedings A. In-Absentia Proceeding The court proceeded without the defendant under Criminal Procedure Act Art. 277-2 , noting that any disadvantage from non-appearance is borne by the defendant. Defense stated Yoon will appear when his health allows . 2) Witness Examination A. Witness: Sgt. Lee Min-su Affiliation: ROKA Capital Defense Command (SUBANGSA) Role at the time: Driver and executive NCO for Commander Lee Jin-woo (operated the commander’s official vehicle) Vehicle/Task: Kia Carnival co...

🗓️ Hearing Overview Date: August 11, 2025 Court: Seoul Central District Court, Criminal Division 25 (Presiding Judge Ji Gui-yeon) Defendant: Former President Yoon Suk-yeol (absent; 4th straight no-show) Witnesses: Col. Kim Young-kwon (Defense Counterintelligence, 550th Unit), Brig. Gen. Koo Sam-hoe (former Commander, 2nd Armored Brigade) 1. Key Issues and Proceedings A. Defendant’s absence → in-absentia trial Bench: Proceed under the Criminal Procedure Act without the defendant present; any disadvantage arising from in-absentia proceedings is borne by the defendant . Legal basis: Criminal Procedure Act, Art. 277-2 (Defendant’s Refusal to Appear & Trial): (1) If a detained defendant refuses to appear without just cause and escort by correctional officers is impossible or markedly impracticable , the court may proceed without the defendant present . (2) When proceeding under (1), the court must hear the views of the prosecutor and defense counsel wh...

  12th Hearing Summary – July 24, 2025 Yoon Suk-yeol Sedition Trial Seoul Central District Court, Criminal Division 25 (Presiding Judge Ji Gui-yeon) 🗓️ Overview Date : July 24, 2025, 10:15 AM Defendant : Yoon Suk-yeol (Former President) Location : Courtroom 417, Seoul Central District Court Witness : Colonel Kim Bong-gyu (ROK Defense Intelligence Command) 🔍 Key Developments Third Consecutive Absence of Yoon Suk-yeol Yoon failed to appear for the third time since his re-detention. The court initiated an investigation into whether his absences constitute unjustified refusal under the Criminal Procedure Act. The presiding judge announced that Yoon’s medical condition and his ability to be forcibly brought to court would be verified through the detention facility. Special Prosecutor Demands Arrest Warrant for Compulsory Appearance The prosecution argued that Yoon’s health claims were already dismissed during the habeas corpus hearing. They emphasized that...

The 11th hearing in the high-profile sedition trial of former South Korean President Yoon Suk-yeol was held on July 17, 2025 . The trial continues amid rising controversy over Yoon’s repeated absences and intensifying testimony about the alleged military intervention plots during his presidency. 🗓️ Hearing Overview Date : July 17, 2025 Location : Seoul Central District Court, Criminal Division 25 (Judge Ji Gu-yeon presiding) Defendant : Former President Yoon Suk-yeol (absent) Witness : Jeong Sung-woo, former Director of Counterintelligence (Defense Security Command) 🔍 Key Issues and Testimony 1. Defendant’s Continued Absence Yoon Suk-yeol again refused to appear in court, citing deteriorating health and challenging the constitutionality of the Special Prosecutor’s Office. His legal team claimed that these circumstances justified his absence. However, the Special Prosecutor's team strongly urged the court to consider issuing a warrant for compulsory appearanc...

  The 10th criminal trial hearing for former President Yoon Suk-yeol was held on July 10, 2025, at the Seoul Central District Court. Marking the first hearing following his second arrest, Yoon did not appear in court, citing health reasons. Nevertheless, the court proceeded with witness examinations as scheduled, focusing on the military's controversial involvement with the National Election Commission (NEC) during the December 3 martial law crisis. 🔍 Key Developments at a Glance 1. Yoon’s Absence and Legal Tensions Yoon submitted a statement of non-attendance on the morning of the hearing, just hours after being detained at 2:07 AM. His legal team claimed the summons was not properly served and cited insufficient time for preparation. The court rejected these arguments and proceeded. The Special Counsel demanded measures to prevent repeated absences, including the issuance of a bench warrant if necessary. 2. Testimony – Col. Koh Dong-hee (former Chief of Plans, Defense Int...

 🗓️ Hearing Overview Date : July 3, 2025 Venue : Seoul Central District Court, Criminal Division 25 (Presiding Judge Ji Guyoun) Defendant : Former President Yoon Suk-yeol Witnesses : Col. Kwon Young-hwan (former Director of Martial Law Division, ROK Joint Chiefs of Staff) Col. Ko Dong-hee (former Chief of Planning, Defense Intelligence Command) 🔍 Key Issues and Testimonies 1. Legality of Special Prosecutor Case Transfer Yoon's Legal Team Argued the transfer of the case was legally void: the Special Prosecutor requested a "handover" (인계) but received a "referral" (이첩), which they claim are distinct legal actions. Asserted that under the Special Prosecutor Act, only the Prosecutor General could authorize such transfer—not the Special Investigation Headquarters. Special Prosecutor's Response Maintained that the terms "handover" and "referral" are functionally equivalent in context. Denied any procedural error...