Yoon Suk-yeol Faces Detention Extension Hearing on 23rd as Deadline Nears

Former President Yoon Suk-yeol, who was additionally indicted over the alleged 'Pyongyang drone infiltration' case, will face a court decision on December 23 regarding whether his detention period will be extended.

The 36th Criminal Division of the Seoul Central District Court (Presiding Judge Lee Jeongyeop) held the first pretrial hearing on December 1 for former President Yoon, former Defense Minister Kim Yonghyun, former Defense Counterintelligence Commander Yeo Inhyeong, and former Drone Operations Commander Kim Yongdae.

Former President Yoon, former Minister Kim, and former Commander Yeo have each been indicted on charges of general treason and abuse of authority, while former Commander Kim has been charged with obstruction of official duties by deception and instigating the creation of false official documents, among other offenses.

Former President Yoon Suk-yeol is attending the trial on charges of obstructing special official duties held at the Seoul Central District Court in Seocho-dong, Seoul, on the 26th.

On this day, the court announced that, at the request of Special Prosecutor Cho Eunseok's team, a detention review hearing for former President Yoon will be held on December 23. Hearings for former Minister Kim and former Commander Yeo are scheduled for December 12 and December 16, respectively.

A detention review is a procedure in which the court hears the opinions of both the prosecution and the defense to determine whether the continued detention of the defendant is necessary.

Former President Yoon was indicted and detained by the prosecution in January on charges including leading an insurrection, but was released in March after the court canceled his detention. He was re-detained by Special Prosecutor Cho Eunseok's team in July on charges including obstruction of special official duties. His current detention period is set to expire on January 18 of next year. Under the Criminal Procedure Act, the maximum detention period for a first trial is six months. However, if the necessity of detention is recognized due to other cases or charges, continued detention may be approved by the court after review.

Similarly, the detention periods for former Minister Kim and former Commander Yeo are also nearing expiration. The hearings will be held privately.

At the pretrial hearing, the court stated that, as the case involves numerous state secrets, it will decide on the confidentiality of the proceedings based on the content of each session. Due to concerns over the exposure of classified information, parts of the pretrial hearing on this day were held behind closed doors. Currently, former President Yoon is standing trial in a total of five cases, including the main case of leading an insurrection.

Former President Yoon and the other defendants are accused of ordering the Drone Operations Command in October last year to infiltrate a drone into Pyongyang, with the aim of provoking North Korea, escalating military tensions, and using this as grounds to declare martial law. The special prosecutor's team believes that, since the drone deployed at the time crashed near Pyongyang and leaked military secrets such as operational plans and capabilities, the charge of general treason is applicable. The charge of general treason can be applied regardless of whether there was conspiracy, if actions harm South Korea's military interests or provide military benefit to an enemy state.