Seoul: The first criminal trial for former President Yoon Suk Yeol is scheduled for this week, 10 days after he was removed from office over his short-lived martial law declaration in December, according to court officials Sunday.
According to Yonhap News Agency, the Seoul Central District Court is set to open the hearing on Yoon’s insurrection charges at 10 a.m. Monday. As the defendant, Yoon must attend the trial. This event marks Yoon as the fifth former president to stand criminal trial. For security reasons, Yoon will be allowed to enter the court via an underground parking lot, with measures in place to prevent potential rallies near the court building. Additionally, media will not be permitted to take photographs inside the courtroom before the proceedings begin.
As the formal proceedings commence, Yoon will be required to state his name, birthday, occupation, and place of residence. Following this, the prosecution will present the charges against Yoon, who is expected to deny them. The former president may also request an opportunity to present his case to the judge.
If convicted on charges of leading an insurrection, Yoon could face a life sentence or the death penalty. Witnesses for the trial include Cho Sung-hyun, commander of the First Security Group of the Capital Defense Command, and Kim Hyung-ki, head of the First Special Forces Battalion of the Special Warfare Command, who are scheduled to testify on Monday.
During Yoon’s impeachment trial at the Constitutional Court, Cho testified that he was ordered by then Capital Defense Commander Lee Jin-woo to send troops to “drag out” lawmakers from the National Assembly following Yoon’s martial law declaration on December 3. Kim is believed to have received a similar directive from his superior the same night.