Former President Yoon Suk-yeol has missed his trial on charges of insurrection leader and other allegations for the fifth consecutive time. Yoon's legal team said he would attend the trial when his health improves.
At 10:15 a.m. on the 18th, the 25th Criminal Division of the Seoul Central District Court (Director General Ji Gwi-yeon) will hold the 14th hearing for former President Yoon on charges of being an insurrection leader and obstructing the exercise of authority in absentia. An in absentia trial is one that proceeds with the defendant absent.
On that day, Yoon's legal representative attended the trial and said, "(Former President Yoon) will come if his health improves." When asked by reporters if his health is currently very poor, the response was "yes."
Since being detained on the 10th of last month, former President Yoon has continued to miss trials due to health deterioration. He has been absent from trials on the 10th, 17th, and 24th of last month, as well as on the 11th of this month. Including today's absence, he has missed five consecutive trials.
In the last trial, Yoon's legal team expressed that "the defendant has been adamantly stating health reasons that make it difficult for him to attend the trial, such as chronic illness and difficulty sitting in a chair for long periods." They requested that the trial be conducted in his absence. The court responded that it would proceed with the trial in the absence of the defendant and that "the defendant must bear all disadvantages resulting from his absence."
Former President Yoon is also indicted on charges of obstruction of special public duty and falsification of official documents. This trial is scheduled for 11 a.m. on the 19th, but Yoon's side has requested a change of date from the court. If the request is not accepted, it is likely that Yoon will also be absent from this trial.
Meanwhile, according to Article 277-2 of the Criminal Procedure Act, if a detained defendant refuses to appear without a valid reason, and it is recognized that attendance by a correctional officer is impossible or extremely difficult, the court can proceed with the trial without the defendant. The trial for former President Park Geun-hye related to the state affairs scandal was also held in absentia.