Seoul: Former President Yoon Suk Yeol was absent from his insurrection trial for the 10th consecutive session, as the special counsel team requested additional hearings to ensure swift proceedings.
According to Yonhap News Agency, Yoon has been standing trial at the Seoul Central District Court on charges of leading an insurrection and abusing his power through his short-lived declaration of martial law in December. He has refused to appear at his trial since he was placed in custody for the second time on July 10 on charges related to the martial law bid.
The bench stated that the session would proceed in his absence as the Seoul Detention Center sent a notice again that it would not be possible to bring him in by force. Under the Criminal Procedure Code, a trial can proceed in the absence of the defendant if they refuse to attend without legitimate grounds and it is deemed impossible or significantly difficult for a prison officer to bring them in by force.
Meanwhile, the special counsel team requested additional court dates in the event the trial of former Defense Minister Kim Yong-hyun is suspended after he applied for a recusal of the bench, which oversees both cases, the previous day. Kim is standing trial on charges of engaging in essential activities of an insurrection over his alleged role in Yoon's martial law declaration.
On Thursday, the court announced it would assign another judge to the bench as part of efforts to ensure swift and fair trial proceedings for special counsel cases.