Sangcheol’s Legal Journal : YouLaw Insights

🗓️ Trial Overview Date: June 23, 2025, 10:15 AM Location: Criminal Division 25, Seoul Central District Court (Judge Ji Gu-yeon presiding) Defendant: Former President Yoon Suk-yeol Special Prosecutor Appearance: Cho Eun-seok’s team, represented in court by Deputy Counsel Park Eok-soo Witnesses: Maj. Gen. Lee Jae-sik (Joint Chiefs of Staff, Crisis Readiness Inspector, Chief of Martial Law Secretariat) Col. Kwon Young-hwan (Former Head of Martial Law Division, JCS) 🔍 Key Issues and Proceedings 1. Special Counsel Assumes Prosecutorial Role This hearing marked the debut of the newly formed Special Counsel team, formally taking over public prosecution duties from the original prosecutors. Deputy Counsel Park sat in the lead prosecutor’s seat and requested expedited proceedings, citing the impending expiration of detention for some defendants. 2. Defense Claims Unconstitutional Abuse of Power Yoon’s legal team (Attorneys Wi Hyun-seok, Bae Bo-yoon) argued...

  🗓️ Hearing Overview Date : June 16, 2025  Location : Seoul Central District Court, Criminal Division 25 (Presiding Judge Ji Gui-yeon) Defendant : Yoon Suk-yeol, Former President of South Korea Key Witness : Kim Cheol-jin, Former Military Aide to Defense Minister 🔎 Key Developments 1. Shift in Yoon's Courtroom Demeanor Former President Yoon, who had largely remained silent in prior hearings, broke his silence during the 7th hearing. He directly addressed the bench, stating his intention to speak after future witness examinations. He criticized the prosecution’s resistance to changes in the witness plan, saying: “Is it because they lack confidence in their case?” Yoon also explained his conduct after the National Assembly passed a resolution to lift martial law, claiming that he: Respected the Assembly's intent despite procedural defects, Ordered his aides to review the National Assembly Act, Drafted a presidential statement for the martial la...

1. Trial Overview Date : June 9, 2025, 10:15 AM Court : Seoul Central District Court, Criminal Division 25 (Presiding Judge Ji Gui-yeon) Defendant : Yoon Seok-yeol (Former President of South Korea) Witness : Lee Sang-hyeon (Brigadier General, Former Commander of the 1st Airborne Brigade, ROK Army Special Warfare Command) 2. Key Proceedings A. Cross-examination of Witness Lee Sang-hyeon “Drag lawmakers out” – Order came from the President Lee reaffirmed that then-Special Forces Commander Gwak Jong-geun conveyed direct orders allegedly from President Yoon: “The President said to break the doors and drag lawmakers out.” Lee testified he relayed this command verbatim to his subordinate battalion commander, explicitly stating it was a “presidential order.” An audio recording of this instruction was played in court, further supporting Lee’s claim. Lee emphasized: “Had I only heard ‘higher command,’ I wouldn’t have described it as the President’s order.” B. De...