Special Prosecutor Continues Investigation with Yoon in Custody
Fourth Attempt at Forced Appearance or Possible Indictment Without Further Investigation
Detention Period, Originally Set to Expire on the 19th, Expected to Be Extended by 2 to 3 Days
Former President Yoon Sukyeol, who was re-arrested, requested a detention legality review, claiming his detention was unlawful and unjustified, but the court rejected his request on the 18th. Since his re-arrest on the 10th, Yoon has refused to cooperate with both the investigation and trial conducted by the special prosecutor's team for the insurrection case, maintaining a strategy of resistance. On this day, Yoon personally appeared in court to appeal that his health had deteriorated, but his plea was not accepted. As a result, the special prosecutor's team is expected to soon decide whether to attempt another forced appearance or proceed with an indictment without further investigation.
Former President Yoon Sukyeol is heading to Seoul Detention Center after completing the second pre-arrest suspect hearing (warrant review) held at the Seoul Central District Court in Seocho-gu, Seoul on July 9, 2025. Photo by Joint Press Corps
The Seoul Central District Court Criminal Appellate Division 9-2 (Presiding Judges Ryu Changseong, Jeong Hyewon, and Choi Bowon) held the detention legality review hearing on this day and dismissed Yoon's request. The panel stated, "Based on the suspect's statement and the case records, we found no grounds for this request and therefore dismissed it."
The hearing concluded after about six hours of intense courtroom debate between the special prosecutor's team and Yoon's legal representatives. Yoon personally appeared in court and appealed for his release for about 30 minutes, citing poor health, but the panel rejected his request approximately four hours after the hearing ended, siding with the special prosecutor's team.
Yoon argued that his release was necessary due to his severely deteriorating health and the fact that trials were already underway for the charges listed in the arrest warrant, but the panel did not accept these arguments. Additionally, the panel appears to have determined that the arrest warrant requested by the special prosecutor's team investigating the '12·3 Martial Law' related insurrection and treason case was lawfully issued, and that continued detention was necessary given concerns about evidence destruction.
Previously, Yoon refused to attend two insurrection trials and the third attempt at forced appearance by the special prosecutor's team after his re-arrest, each time citing health reasons. Yoon's attorney stated, "Former President Yoon is in a condition where both eating and exercising are difficult due to a lack of energy."
At a briefing on this day, the special prosecutor's team stated regarding Yoon's health, "This morning, we received and submitted to the court additional diagnostic materials from Seoul Detention Center indicating there are no mobility issues," and added, "Although Yoon's health issues have not been confirmed through a hospital at this stage, we have received relevant materials and factual information from Seoul Detention Center, which is responsible for his custody."
With Yoon's detention status maintained, the special prosecutor's team is expected to attempt another forced appearance for a face-to-face investigation. However, if Yoon again refuses to comply, it has been confirmed that the team is also considering proceeding with an indictment within the initial detention period without further investigation. Although Yoon's current detention period was set to expire on the 19th, it is expected to be extended by about two to three days, considering that no investigation took place during the period of the detention legality review, in accordance with the Criminal Procedure Act.
Yoon's legal team did not issue a separate statement regarding the court's decision to dismiss the request on this day.
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