The panel handling former Prime Minister Han Duck-soo's sedition trial on the 19th sentenced the defense attorneys for former Ministry of National Defense Minister Kim Yong-hyun to confinement for violating courtroom order, but ordered their release, judging execution would be difficult. Confinement means detaining a person who violated courtroom order in a prison or detention center for a set period under the presiding judge's order.
The Criminal Agreement Division 33 of the Seoul Central District Court (Presiding Judge Lee Jin-gwan) held a continued hearing that day on charges including aiding the leader of sedition by the former prime minister. Kim, the former Minister, who was summoned as a witness that afternoon, applied for the "right to have a trusted person present," but the panel determined it did not meet the requirements and did not allow it.
However, attorneys Lee Ha-sang and Kwon Woo-hyeon for the former Minister did not leave the gallery and even attempted to speak. The panel then ordered, "Who are you? Why are you here? This courtroom can be viewed only with a gallery permit. Leave." Attorney Lee retorted, "Are you telling me to leave?" and the panel warned again, "We will confine you. Leave."
When Attorney Lee did not leave, the panel said, "We will confine you. We will detain you at a place of custody," and Lee protested, saying "abuse of power," as Lee was dragged out. Attorney Kwon also protested, saying "Is this how the judiciary of the Republic of Korea acts?" and was removed.
Afterward, the panel held a separate confinement hearing for Attorneys Lee and Kwon and sentenced them to 15 days of confinement. Earlier that morning, the panel had warned it would strictly sanction disturbances in the courtroom, saying, "The panel has a duty to maintain order. If there is a violation, we will issue a first warning, a second removal, and a third arrest for confinement."
However, after business hours that day, the Seoul Detention Center, the place of confinement, refused to accept them, and the execution order was suspended. According to the court, at the confinement hearing the attorneys refused to answer the presiding judge's questions asking for their personal information, and the presiding judge recorded their names, occupations, and appearances in the confinement ruling to the extent verifiable by ordinary means.
Later, however, the Seoul Detention Center refused to accept them, saying their personal information had not been identified, and the panel, judging execution would be difficult, suspended the execution order related to the confinement hearing and ordered their release.
Attorney Kwon Woo-hyeon and others said that at the confinement hearing they expressed to the panel their intention to stand trial with the assistance of counsel, but only refused to testify because the panel disallowed it, and that they did not refuse the panel's identity verification procedure.