Defendant Yoon's Appearance in the Dock to Be Revealed... Court Permits Filming Considering Public's Right to Know

Filming Permitted Starting from Second Trial on the 21st
"Permission Granted After Requesting Defendant's Opinion"

The court has permitted filming in the criminal trial courtroom of former President Yoon Seok-yeol on charges of leading a rebellion. As a result, images of former President Yoon sitting in the defendant's seat, which were not seen during the first trial, will be released to the media.

Former President Yoon Suk-yeol is greeting supporters as he leaves the presidential residence in Hannam-dong, Yongsan-gu, Seoul, and moves to his private residence in Seocho-dong on April 11, 2025. Photo by Yoon Dong-ju

On the 17th, the 25th Criminal Division of the Seoul Central District Court (Chief Judge Ji Gui-yeon) announced that it would allow photography and video recording inside the courtroom for former President Yoon's trial. The court explained, "After going through procedures to request the defendant's opinion and comprehensively considering public interest, the public's right to know, and the legal interests of the defendant and related parties, we decided to permit filming in the courtroom."

Previously, the court had denied media requests to film in the courtroom ahead of the first formal trial. Although some media outlets applied for permission to film, their applications were submitted too late, and the court could not go through the procedure of asking the defendant's opinion.

Subsequently, the court stated at the first trial held on the 14th that if a request for filming in the courtroom was submitted later, it would be reviewed again after going through the proper procedures. The legal video press corps resubmitted their application on the 15th. It was confirmed that the application included a request to permit courtroom filming, referencing the cases of former President Park Geun-hye in 2017 and former President Lee Myung-bak in 2018.

In response, former President Yoon's side reportedly submitted a position to the court requesting the filming be denied, arguing that it violates the presumption of innocence principle; however, the court decided to allow it. According to the Supreme Court regulations on courtroom attendance and filming, the presiding judge may permit filming inside the courtroom if it is deemed substantially in the public interest, even without the defendant's consent.

The second trial date for former President Yoon's case is scheduled for 10 a.m. on the 21st. Cross-examination by former President Yoon's side is expected to proceed against prosecution witnesses Cho Seong-hyun, commander of the 1st Security Group of the Capital Defense Command, and Kim Hyung-gi, commander of the 1st Special Forces Battalion of the Special Warfare Command.