Kwon Woohyun, the attorney representing former Defense Minister Kim Yonghyun, who caused a disturbance in court during the trial of former Prime Minister Han Ducksoo on charges of insurrection, has been sentenced to five days of detention.
On December 4, the 33rd Criminal Division of the Seoul Central District Court (Presiding Judge Lee Jinkwan) held a closed hearing and sentenced attorney Kwon Woohyun, representing the former minister, to five days of detention. Detention refers to the act of confining a person who violates courtroom order in a detention center or prison for a set period, as ordered by the judge.
According to Kwon's legal team, the court took issue with Kwon's remarks such as "Are you trying to pick a fight?" and "See you at the Corruption Investigation Office" during the detention hearing held on November 19. At the time, Kwon was subject to a detention hearing for failing to comply with the court's order to leave during the trial of former Prime Minister Han, who was charged with aiding and abetting the leader of an insurrection.
During the trial, Kwon requested to sit next to former Minister Kim as a person of trust while he was testifying as a witness. When the court denied this request, Kwon refused to leave the gallery and attempted to speak. The court then ordered him to leave, and when Kwon did not comply, the court held a separate detention hearing and sentenced him to 15 days of detention.
Kwon's defense team argued that there were procedural flaws in the latest detention ruling. They stated, "We were not informed in advance of the grounds for detention and thus could not exercise our right to defense. Some of the statements in question were made after the detention hearing had concluded and do not constitute a courtroom disturbance."
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