Court to Tighten Security in Week of Concentrated 'Yoon Trials'...North Gate of Court Complex Restricted

For three days on the 23rd and from the 25th to the 26th

Yonhap News Agency

The court will significantly strengthen access control and security screening at the courthouse late this month, when trials involving former President Yoon Suk Yeol are concentrated.

On the 21st, the Seoul High Court announced, "We will implement special security measures to maintain order inside the courthouse for three days on the 23rd and from the 25th to the 26th, as criminal trials and preparatory hearings for major defendants are scheduled."

From 9 a.m. until midnight on each of those trial dates, both the pedestrian walkway and vehicle passage at the north gate of the Seoul Court Complex will be completely closed. During this period, access to the courthouse will only be possible through the main gate and the east gate. The court plans to conduct more stringent security screenings of people and vehicles entering the building than usual. All assemblies and demonstrations are prohibited within the court premises, so access may be restricted for those carrying items used for rallies or protests, such as pickets or banners. In addition, any filming without prior approval from court officials is strictly prohibited.

On the 23rd and 25th, the 10th and 11th hearings are scheduled in the case in which former President Yoon faces charges of ordinary enemy-benefiting crimes in connection with the Pyongyang drone allegations. Yoon and others are accused of having sent unmanned aerial vehicles to Pyongyang, North Korea, multiple times since October last year in an attempt to build a pretext for declaring martial law.

On the 26th, the second preparatory hearing will be held in the case where former President Yoon is charged with perjury at the trial of former Prime Minister Han Duck Soo. He is accused of falsely testifying that he had planned to declare martial law after deliberation, even though he actually proclaimed it without any deliberation once a quorum of the Cabinet meeting was met.

A court official urged, "In light of the congestion around the courthouse and the longer time required for strengthened security screening, parties to the cases and related persons should arrive earlier than usual so that the proceedings can go ahead without disruption."