Former President Yoon Suk-yeol appeared in court on the 30th for his trial on charges of being the leader of an insurrection. It has been about four months since he skipped 16 consecutive hearings after being rearrested in July.
The Criminal Division 25 of the Seoul Central District Court (Presiding Judge Jee Kui-youn) held a continued hearing that morning on the case involving charges of being the leader of an insurrection and abuse of power and obstruction of another's rights.
That day, the former president entered the courtroom wearing a navy suit and a white shirt, holding a document envelope in one hand. He then gave a silent bow toward the bench and took a seat at the defendant's table.
As former Army Special Warfare Commanding General Gwak Jong-geun, who gave testimony unfavorable to the former president, was to appear as a witness that day, Yoon was expected to exercise his right to defend himself directly. If Yoon were to face the former commanding general in court, he might also gain an opportunity to speak and conduct direct questioning.
The former commanding general had appeared at Yoon's impeachment trial and elsewhere, testifying that he received instructions from Yoon to "drag out the lawmakers in the main chamber of the National Assembly," "break down the doors and go in," and "if necessary, cut the power."
Earlier, the former president had maintained throughout the impeachment proceedings and subsequent criminal trial that he never gave an instruction to drag out lawmakers.
Yoon is accused of conspiring with former Minister of National Defense Kim Yong-hyun and others to declare martial law to neutralize constitutional institutions, including the National Assembly. He is also accused of abusing his authority by directing soldiers and police to carry out actions for which they had no duty, such as blocking the National Assembly and the National Election Commission.