The second trial regarding former President Yoon Suk-yeol's charge of leading a rebellion will be held on the 21st at 10 a.m. at the Seoul Central District Court. On this day, the appearance of former President Yoon sitting in the defendant's seat will be revealed for the first time.
The 25th Criminal Division of the Seoul Central District Court (presided over by Director General Ji Kwi-yeon) will hold the second trial date for former President Yoon's charge of leading a rebellion from 10 a.m. in courtroom 417. The defendant is required to appear on the trial date, so it is expected that former President Yoon will come to court, just as he did in the first trial held on the 14th.
Unlike the first trial, the court allowed the press to take photos inside the courtroom during the second trial. Although it was reported that former President Yoon's side did not agree, the court noted that it would permit filming considering the public interest and people's right to know. However, filming will only be allowed before the trial begins, and it will not be a live broadcast.
The Seoul High Court has also allowed former President Yoon to enter and exit through the underground parking lot, just as it did during the first trial. Therefore, it appears that former President Yoon's appearance entering the courtroom will also not be exposed to the outside this time.
In the previous first trial, the prosecutor's statement and former President Yoon's statement were made, followed by the prosecutor's examination of witnesses, including Director General Cho Sung-hyun of the Capital Defense Command and Colonel Kim Hyung-ki of the 1st Special Warfare Brigade. During the first trial, former President Yoon spoke for a total of 93 minutes, directly denying the accusations made by the prosecution.
In the second trial that day, the cross-examination of Director General Cho and Colonel Kim by former President Yoon's side will take place. In the prosecutors' examination, the two testified that on the day of the emergency martial law on Dec. 3, they received orders from above to 'take down' politicians.
In addition, the court is expected to hear and organize the opinions of both sides regarding the selection of evidence and witnesses that day. At the last hearing, former President Yoon's side argued that the indictment was made through illegal procedures and should be dismissed, stating, 'The preparatory hearing should be conducted again to reorganize issues and evidence.' The court noted that it would discuss the procedures after the cross-examination that day.