20-Minute Recess Begins Around 5:20 p.m.
The court's pre-arrest detention hearing (warrant hearing) for President Yoon Seok-yeol, who is accused of being the ringleader of the '12·3 Emergency Martial Law Incident' and charged with treason, has been ongoing for nearly four hours.
Chief Judge Cha Eun-kyung of the Seoul Western District Court began the warrant hearing around 2 p.m. on the 18th. After a 20-minute recess starting at around 5:20 p.m., the hearing resumed at approximately 5:40 p.m.
On the 18th, when the pre-arrest detention hearing for President Yoon Seok-yeol, who is accused of being the ringleader of the rebellion and abuse of authority, is held, the transport vehicle carrying President Yoon arrives at the Western District Court in Mapo-gu, Seoul. Photo by Jo Yong-jun
According to Yoon’s lawyer Seok Dong-hyun, prosecutors from the High-ranking Officials' Crime Investigation Division (Gongsoocheo) emphasized the necessity of detention for investigation for 70 minutes starting at 2:15 p.m. This is interpreted as underscoring the gravity of the crime and substantiating the treason charges against President Yoon.
Subsequently, Yoon’s lawyers Kim Hong-il and Song Hae-eun each rebutted the claims for about 70 minutes starting around 3:25 p.m. using prepared PowerPoint (PPT) materials. President Yoon, dressed in a suit and appearing in court in person, also spoke directly for about 40 minutes starting around 4:35 p.m.
President Yoon came to court from the Seoul Detention Center in Uiwang-si, Gyeonggi-do, where he is detained, by transport vehicle, stating his intention to personally explain the legitimacy of the emergency martial law declaration. The decision on whether to issue the arrest warrant is expected late tonight or in the early hours of the 19th.
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