Seoul: Impeached President Yoon Suk Yeol attended the first preliminary hearing of his criminal trial on insurrection charges on Thursday, marking a historic moment as the first sitting president of the nation to face a criminal trial. The hearing, which took place at the Seoul Central District Court, was brief, lasting only 13 minutes, and focused on scheduling future proceedings.
According to Yonhap News Agency, Yoon was indicted last month on charges of insurrection related to his unsuccessful attempt to impose martial law, a charge that overrides his presidential immunity. Despite the preliminary hearing not requiring his presence, Yoon chose to attend, dressed in a black suit and red tie. His legal team stated that they would clarify their position on the charges at a later date, as they are still reviewing the case records.
The prosecution opposed any consolidation of Yoon's trial with those of other individuals indicted for roles in the attempted martial law imposition, such as former Defense Minister Kim Yong-hyun. They argued that separate trials would be more efficient. Following the hearing, the court began reviewing Yoon's request to cancel his arrest and release him from detention.
Yoon's attorney, Yun Gap-geun, expressed confidence that the judge would see the arrest as unjust, stating, "As the grounds for his arrest are no longer valid and it is all too clear that he is currently under illegal arrest, (we) expect the judge to make a sensible decision." Yoon has been in detention since mid-January after being apprehended by investigators.
Outside the court, Yoon's supporters gathered to demand his release, prompting authorities to deploy approximately 3,200 police personnel for crowd control and to maintain order around the courthouse.