Yoon's Habeas Corpus Hearing Set for Morning of July 18... Decision on Continued Detention to Be Made

Yoon's Side Claims "Detention Is Illegal and Unjust"
Assigned to Criminal Appeals Division 9-2
Special Prosecutor's Investigation at a Crossroads

The hearing for the habeas corpus petition filed by former President Yoon Suk-yeol's legal team, claiming that his detention is illegal and unjust, will take place on the morning of July 18.

Yonhap News

According to the legal community on July 16, the Seoul Central District Court Criminal Appeals Division 9-2 (Presiding Judges Ryu Changseong, Jeong Hyewon, and Choi Bowon) will hold the hearing at 10:15 a.m. on July 18.

On this day, former President Yoon's legal representatives stated, "This morning, we submitted the habeas corpus petition to the Seoul Central District Court," adding, "We intend to contest the detention on the grounds that it is both substantively and procedurally illegal and unjust, in accordance with the general legal principles of habeas corpus."

The habeas corpus procedure is a process in which the court reviews whether the detention of a suspect is lawful and whether there is a continued necessity for detention. Within 48 hours of the petition's submission, the court interrogates the suspect and examines evidence, then comprehensively reassesses the requirements for detention and the need for continued custody. During this period, the investigation of former President Yoon is suspended.

The time from when the court receives investigation documents and evidence until they are returned after a decision is excluded from the maximum 20-day detention period for investigative agencies. The first detention period for former President Yoon is set to expire on July 19.

Previously, on July 10, Judge Nam Sejin, who is in charge of warrants at the Seoul Central District Court, issued an arrest warrant for former President Yoon on charges including obstruction of special official duties, citing concerns about evidence destruction.

Since his detention on July 10, former President Yoon has refused to comply with the special prosecutor's team's summons for questioning on the grounds of health issues. The special prosecutor's team judged that his reasons for noncompliance were not valid and attempted to bring him in by force three times in total up to this date, but all attempts failed as former President Yoon refused each time.