Court Allows Broadcast of Former President Yoon Sukyeol's 'Insurrection Ringleader Charges' Trial

Second Broadcast Following Special Official Duties Obstruction Case
Witness Examination Excluded Due to State Secrets Concerns
Permitted Upon Defendant's Request Under the Special Prosecutor Act on Insurrection

The Seoul Central District Court has decided to broadcast the trial of former President Yoon Sukyeol, who is charged as the ringleader of an insurrection. This marks the second time a trial related to former President Yoon will be broadcast, following the previous case involving charges of obstructing special official duties.

The Criminal Agreement Division 25 of the Seoul Central District Court, presided over by Chief Judge Ji Guyoun, announced on October 1 that the broadcast of the trial scheduled for the following day, October 2, would cover the proceedings from the opening of the session up to, but not including, the witness examination in the ongoing trial for charges of leading an insurrection and abuse of authority. Due to the presence of military officials as witnesses and concerns over the potential disclosure of state secrets, the witness examination will not be broadcast.

Former President Yoon Sukyeol is attending a trial on charges of obstructing special official duties held at the Seoul Central District Court in Seocho-dong, Seoul on the 26th of last month. Photo by Joint Press Corps

According to Article 11, Paragraph 4 of the current ‘Special Act on the Investigation of Insurrection,’ the presiding judge is required to allow broadcasting unless there are special circumstances, if requested by the special prosecutor or the defendant. The decision to broadcast this trial was also made in response to a request from the defense.

Previously, in the trial regarding former President Yoon’s other charges of obstructing special official duties, the Criminal Agreement Division 35 of the Seoul Central District Court, presided over by Chief Judge Baek Daehyun, permitted the broadcast of the initial hearing. At that time, it was recorded as the first instance in which the entire process of a criminal trial at the district court level was broadcast.

In addition to former President Yoon’s case, the trial of former Prime Minister Han Ducksoo, who is charged with aiding and abetting the ringleader of an insurrection, has also been approved for broadcast. The Criminal Agreement Division 33 of the Seoul Central District Court, presided over by Chief Judge Lee Jingwan, allowed the broadcast of the first hearing.