Yoon to Attend Sixth Insurrection Trial Tomorrow, First Time Since Presidential Election

Court Security Measures Strengthened

President Yoon Sukyeol is scheduled to pass through the court photo line for the first time since the 6·3 presidential election on June 9.

According to legal sources on June 8, the Seoul Central District Court's Criminal Agreement Division 25 (Presiding Judge Ji Guyoun) will hold the sixth hearing of the former president's case on charges of leading an insurrection and abuse of power at 10:15 a.m. tomorrow.

Former President Yoon Sukyeol and First Lady Kim Gunhee are heading to their vehicle after casting their votes at a polling station in Seocho District on the 3rd, the day of the 21st presidential election. Photo by Yonhap News

Former President Yoon is again expected to appear via the ground-level entrance of the court and pass through the court photo line.

He also entered through the ground-level entrance for the third to fifth hearings. However, he did not respond to questions from the press. On the day of the presidential election, June 3, reporters also asked former President Yoon and his wife at a polling station in Seocho District, "Since an early election was held due to impeachment, do you have anything to say to the people?" but he did not answer.

At the June 9 trial, the court will continue with the testimony of Lee Sanghyun, former commander of the 1st Airborne Brigade of the Army Special Warfare Command (Brigadier General), who was dispatched to the National Assembly on the day of the emergency martial law. At the May 26 hearing, Brigadier General Lee testified that he had been told by Kwak Jonggeun, then commander of the Army Special Warfare Command, "The president said to break down the doors if necessary and drag the lawmakers out."

In preparation for the June 9 hearing, the court plans to close some entrances and strengthen security checks at entry points. All general vehicles, except those for essential business, will be completely prohibited from entering.

The same court division will also hold a continued hearing on June 12 for the case involving Kim Yonghyun, former Minister of National Defense, Noh Sangwon, former Director of the Defense Security Command, and Kim Yonggun, former Provost Marshal of the 3rd Army Command (Colonel), who are charged with participating in an insurrection of significant importance. On that day, the court plans to conclude the testimony of Koo Samhoe, commander of the Army 2nd Armored Brigade (Brigadier General), and proceed with the testimony of Oh Youngdae, Director of Personnel Planning at the Ministry of National Defense.