Yoon Detention Hearing Ends... "President Responded Sincerely to Facts and Legal Issues"

Returns to Detention Center to Await Results

The pre-arrest detention hearing (warrant review) to decide whether to detain President Yoon Seok-yeol, who is accused of being the ringleader of the December 3 emergency martial law incident, concluded after about five hours.

Chief Judge Cha Eun-kyung of the Seoul Western District Court conducted the warrant review for President Yoon, who faces charges of being the ringleader of a rebellion and abuse of authority obstructing the exercise of rights, from around 2:00 PM to 6:50 PM on the 18th, lasting 4 hours and 50 minutes.

On the 18th, the day of the detention hearing for President Yoon Seok-yeol, who is accused of being the ringleader of the insurrection and abuse of power, a transport vehicle carrying President Yoon arrived at the Western District Court in Mapo-gu, Seoul. Photo by Jo Yong-jun

At the Corruption Investigation Office for High-ranking Officials (CIO), six prosecutors including Chief Prosecutor Cha Jeong-hyun appeared, while eight lawyers including Kim Hong-il, Yoon Gap-geun, Song Hae-eun, Seok Dong-hyun, Cha Ki-hwan, Bae Jin-han, Lee Dong-chan, and Kim Gye-ri represented President Yoon. President Yoon, detained at Seoul Detention Center, also came to court directly by the Ministry of Justice transport vehicle, stating he would personally clarify the legitimacy of the emergency martial law. Dressed in a suit, President Yoon sat in the center of the courtroom awaiting the hearing.

The CIO and the defense team clashed over whether the subsequent actions following the declaration of martial law on the 3rd of last month, such as the blockade of the National Assembly, could be considered a riot aimed at disturbing the constitutional order. They also debated whether there was a risk of evidence tampering or flight by President Yoon, whether the CIO has investigative authority over the charge of rebellion, and whether the CIO’s request for a warrant at the Western District Court was jurisdictionally proper.

First, CIO prosecutors presented their position for 70 minutes starting at 2:15 PM. Then, from around 3:25 PM, lawyers Kim Hong-il and Song Hae-eun from President Yoon’s side rebutted using prepared PowerPoint (PPT) materials for about 70 minutes.

President Yoon spoke directly for about 40 minutes starting around 4:35 PM. Before the hearing ended, he also gave a final statement to the court for five minutes.

After the hearing, Yoon Gap-geun, a lawyer for President Yoon, told reporters, "The President sincerely explained and responded regarding the facts, evidence, and legal issues," adding, "There is nothing more to say today." He continued, "We will quietly wait for the court’s decision."

The court is expected to review the arguments and written materials from both sides and decide whether to issue the warrant late tonight or early on the 19th.

President Yoon will return to Seoul Detention Center and wait for the result in the detainee waiting room. If the arrest warrant is issued, President Yoon will undergo formal detention procedures and be held in custody; if dismissed, he will be released immediately and return to his official residence in Hannam-dong, Yongsan-gu, Seoul.