Result Expected by Early Morning of the 10th at the Latest
The pre-arrest suspect interrogation (warrant review) for former President Yoon Seokyoul concluded after approximately 6 hours and 40 minutes on July 9.
After the hearing, former President Yoon was transferred to the Seoul Detention Center, where he is awaiting the decision on his arrest. If the arrest warrant is issued, he will immediately undergo the detention process as an unconvicted detainee. If the warrant is denied, he will leave the detention center and return to his residence in Seocho-gu, Seoul.
The hearing was presided over by Judge Nam Sejin, who is in charge of warrants at the Seoul Central District Court, and took place from 2:22 p.m. to 9:01 p.m. There were two recesses: one for 10 minutes starting at 4:20 p.m., and another of about one hour beginning at 7:00 p.m. Former President Yoon had dinner with a meal brought in from outside during the break.
Former President Yoon Seokyoul, who is under special investigation related to the December 3 emergency martial law, is leaving the court after the pre-arrest suspect interrogation (warrant review) held at the Seoul Central District Court in Seocho-gu, Seoul on the 9th. Photo by Yonhap News Joint Coverage Team
At around 9:06 p.m., former President Yoon left the court without answering reporters' questions such as "How do you feel about undergoing a second arrest review?" and "How did you explain your case?" and got into the transport vehicle.
The special prosecutor's team for insurrection, led by Special Prosecutor Jo Eunseok, deployed 10 prosecutors including Special Prosecutor Park Eoksu, who conducted the face-to-face investigation with former President Yoon, as well as Deputy Chief Prosecutors Kim Jeongguk and Jo Jaechul, to argue the necessity of the arrest. They submitted a 178-page PowerPoint (PPT) presentation and a written opinion nearly 300 pages long to the court, dividing responsibilities by charge to respond during the hearing.
On former President Yoon's side, a total of seven lawyers participated, led by Kim Hongil, a former prosecutor specializing in serious and special crimes, along with Bae Boyoon, Song Jinho, Chae Myungseong, Choi Jiwoo, Kim Gyeri, and Yoo Junghwa. They submitted a 167-page PPT and a 68-page written opinion. Former President Yoon also appeared in person and made his final statement for about 20 minutes at the end of the hearing.
The arrest warrant request includes a total of five charges, such as obstructing the martial law review authority of cabinet members and interfering with the execution of an arrest warrant by mobilizing the Presidential Security Service. The hearing reportedly lasted for an extended period as both sides fiercely contested the necessity of detention.
Previously, in January, a warrant review requested by the Corruption Investigation Office for High-ranking Officials was held at the Seoul Western District Court and lasted about 4 hours and 50 minutes. At that time, former President Yoon, while still in office, appeared in court for the first time as a sitting president and spoke for 45 minutes.
Former President Yoon is currently waiting in the detainee holding room at the Seoul Detention Center for the decision on his arrest. The result of the review is expected to be announced as early as late tonight or, at the latest, by the early morning of July 10.
If the arrest warrant is issued, former President Yoon will go through the formal admission process and be detained, during which he will be subject to special prosecutor investigation for up to 20 days. If the warrant is denied, he will be released immediately, which would inevitably deal a blow to the special prosecutor's efforts to secure his custody.
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