Sangcheol’s Legal Journal : YouLaw Insights

  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...

🗓️ 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...