Second Trial of Former President Yoon Seokyoul: Opening Scene Revealed

Second Trial Begins for Yoon on Charges of Leading an Insurrection

The Criminal Agreement Division 25 of the Seoul Central District Court (Presiding Judge Ji Gwiyeon) held the second trial in the case against former President Yoon Seokyoul, who faces charges of leading an insurrection, at 10:00 a.m. on April 21 in courtroom 417 of the Seoul Central District Court. During this session, the court granted the media's request to photograph inside the courtroom, allowing images of former President Yoon seated in the defendant's seat to be made public. Former President Yoon appeared in court at approximately 9:57 a.m., wearing a navy suit and a red tie.

Former President Yoon Seokyoul, who was indicted on charges of leading an insurrection by declaring emergency martial law on December 3, is sitting in courtroom 417 at the Seoul Central District Court in Seocho-gu, Seoul, on the morning of April 21, 2025, waiting for the trial to begin. Photo by Joint Press Corps

At both ends of the courtroom's gallery, four to five members of the press were waiting with cameras in order to capture images of former President Yoon, who was seated on the innermost seat of the second row at the defendant's bench. Camera flashes went off throughout the courtroom as the media took photographs, but former President Yoon sat with his lips tightly closed, gazing at the prosecutors' bench across from him. The court stated, "After following the necessary procedures, including asking the defendant for his opinion, we granted permission for courtroom photography before the start of proceedings in consideration of the public's interest and right to know." However, as with the first trial, images of former President Yoon entering the courtroom were not released.

During the trial, the defense for former President Yoon conducted cross-examinations of Cho Sunghyun, Commander of the 1st Security Battalion of the Army Capital Defense Command, and Kim Hyungki, Commander of the 1st Special Forces Battalion of the Army Special Warfare Command, both of whom were prosecution witnesses. In the first trial, Commander Cho answered "Yes" when asked by the prosecutor whether he had received orders to enter the main building and remove lawmakers. Commander Kim also responded, "Yes, that's correct," when asked if it appeared he had received instructions from Lee Sanghyun, Commander of the 1st Airborne Brigade of the Special Warfare Command, to climb over the wall and remove lawmakers.

There is interest in whether former President Yoon will again represent himself in the second trial. In the first trial, former President Yoon spoke directly for 93 minutes, completely denying the charges and stating, "It was a peaceful martial law message to the public." It is also possible that he may directly question the witnesses during the second trial.

After the cross-examinations, the court plans to hear additional opinions from both sides regarding the admission of evidence and witnesses before making a decision. In the previous trial, former President Yoon's defense requested that a new pretrial date be set, arguing that procedural issues needed to be clarified before substantive questioning could begin.