Pecohub Former President Yoon Suk-yeol has failed to appear for the 14th consecutive trial session in his case involving charges of being the leader of an insurrection and abuse of authority. The court proceeded with the trial in absentia without the defendant’s presence.
Seoul Central District Court Criminal Division 25 (Presiding Judge Jee Kui-youn) held a continued trial session on the morning of the 13th regarding the charges against former President Yoon Suk-yeol.
The court stated, “The defendant (former President Yoon Suk-yeol) did not appear today,” adding, “Although the defendant voluntarily refuses to attend, there are no circumstances indicating a change in the prison’s previous stance that transferring the defendant remains highly difficult.” It continued, “As repeatedly mentioned, the defendant will bear the disadvantages of non-attendance. It would be advisable to persuade the defendant to attend the trial.”
In response, former President Yoon Suk-yeol’s side argued, “Considering his health conditions and other investigative circumstances, it is difficult to comply,” and requested understanding for the unavoidable difficulty in attending. They added, “Rather than refusing the trial, this should be viewed as an exercise of the right to defense under the circumstances former President Yoon Suk-yeol faces.”
Meanwhile, the insurrection special counsel team and former President Yoon Suk-yeol’s side engaged in a debate over the constitutionality of the revised Act on the Appointment of Special Prosecutors, etc., which includes provisions regarding trial broadcasts, before the main proceedings began.
The court had previously stated, “Considering the gravity of the case and the public’s right to know, we decided to broadcast the trial.” However, former President Yoon Suk-yeol’s side argued, “What is the purpose of broadcasting from the start of the trial until before witness examinations? It only intensifies arguments from both sides conscious of the cameras, which does not help the trial’s progress at all.”
The insurrection special counsel team countered, “We applied for the broadcast based on specific provisions in the currently enforced Act on the Appointment of Special Prosecutors, etc. The purpose of guaranteeing the public’s right to know regarding this trial is legitimate. The act stipulates that the presiding judge can determine the scope and method of broadcasting, while also including a clause allowing the denial of broadcasts. Therefore, it is difficult to view this as unconstitutional.”
In response, former President Yoon Suk-yeol’s side insisted, “Even the broadcasting clause has a proviso allowing the presiding judge to deny broadcasts, but the broadcasting itself is mandatory. Mandatory broadcasting with exceptions raises significant concerns about infringing on judicial authority.”
Former President Yoon Suk-yeol last appeared in court on the 26th of last month for the first trial session and a bail hearing in a separate case involving charges of obstructing arrest. However, after his bail request was rejected on the 2nd of last month, he did not attend the second trial session for the obstruction charges held on the 10th.
