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 : 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...

🗓️ 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...