Yoon Refuses to Attend Two Insurrection Trials and Three Forcible Summons Attempts After Being Re-detained on July 10
Detention Legality Review Scheduled for the Morning of July 18... Yoon Considering Whether to Appear
Former President Yoon Sukyeol once again failed to appear in court on July 17 for his trial on charges of leading an insurrection. Since being re-detained, Yoon has refused to comply with two consecutive insurrection trials and three attempts by the special prosecutor team led by Cho Eunseok to forcibly bring him to court, maintaining a strategy of resistance.
Former President Yoon Sukyeol is entering the Seoul Central District Court in Seocho-gu, Seoul, on the afternoon of the 9th to undergo a detention hearing (warrant review). The hearing will be presided over by Chief Judge Nam Sejin (Judicial Research and Training Institute Class 33), who is in charge of warrants. The 25th Criminal Division of the Seoul Central District Court (Presiding Judge Ji Guyoun) opened the 11th hearing at 10:15 a.m. on the same day for Yoon's charges of leading an insurrection and abuse of power.
Yoon did not appear in court that day. His attorney stated, "He was suddenly detained and is now in a very difficult environment. Even before, he regularly took medication for diabetes and high blood pressure, and he is currently in such poor health that even climbing stairs is extremely difficult due to dizziness." The attorney added, "Given these circumstances, it is hard for him to sit through a lengthy trial."
The attorney further explained, "Along with these health issues, the defendant maintains that he cannot attend court as long as the special prosecutor is not excluded from the proceedings. The special prosecutor has unconstitutionally taken over and is maintaining the prosecution of an already indicted insurrection case, has detained the defendant through unlawful investigation, and is infringing upon the rights of the opposing party in the litigation."
In the previous 10th hearing, Yoon also failed to appear, submitting a written statement citing health reasons.
On July 10, Chief Judge Nam Sejin, who is in charge of warrants at the Seoul Central District Court, issued an arrest warrant for Yoon on charges including obstruction of special official duties, citing concerns about evidence destruction.
Since his detention on July 10, Yoon has refused the special prosecutor team's requests to appear, citing health reasons. The special prosecutor team deemed his reasons unjustified and attempted to forcibly bring him to court three times by July 16, but Yoon refused each time, resulting in all attempts failing.
Meanwhile, the hearing for Yoon's request to review the legality and validity of his detention, which he filed with the court claiming the special prosecutor team's actions were unlawful and unjust, is scheduled for the morning of July 18. Yoon is considering whether to appear in person for the hearing.
A detention review is a procedure in which the court examines whether the detention of a suspect is lawful and whether continued detention is necessary. Within 48 hours of receiving the request, the court interrogates the suspect and examines evidence to comprehensively reassess the requirements and necessity for detention. During this period, any investigation of Yoon is suspended.
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