The sentencing hearing on former President Yoon Suk-yeol's alleged role as ringleader of insurrection is ongoing as of 9 p.m. The trial began at 9:20 a.m. and has continued for about 12 hours.
As the "marathon trial" continued, the presiding judge unusually allowed people to leave their seats during the proceedings, and there was talk between the special counsel for insurrection and the defense about setting an additional sentencing date.
The 25th Criminal Division of the Seoul Central District Court (Presiding Judge Jee Kui-youn) opened a sentencing hearing around 9:20 a.m. in Criminal Courtroom 417 for eight defendants, including the former president Yoon and former Minister Kim, and continued to review documentary evidence and hear statements. The sentencing phase to conclude the trial has yet to formally begin, and the proceedings are continuing into the night.
◇ Presiding judge says "you can get some air," permits leaving seats amid grueling pace
Presiding Judge Jee Kui-youn around 5:45 p.m. first suggested a break, saying, "I won't say anything if you step out for a moment to get some air." Outside of the usual recess, prosecutors, defendants, and defense attorneys typically remain in the courtroom, but observers said the court showed flexibility given the lengthy proceedings.
After convening at 9:20 a.m., the bench proceeded without a break for about 3 hours and 7 minutes until around 12:27 p.m. After resuming at 2 p.m. following lunch, the court continued until 6:30 p.m., except for a roughly 15-minute break around 4 p.m., then took about 15 more minutes of rest before resuming the hearing at 6:45 p.m.
The former president Yoon around 5:46 p.m. moved with a corrections officer to the defendants' waiting room outside the courtroom to rest and reportedly returned 27 minutes later. Defense attorneys for other defendants, including former Korean National Police Agency Commissioner General Cho Ji-ho, were also said to have taken breaks outside the courtroom during the proceedings.
◇ Yoon repeatedly dozes; amid disputes over exhibits, "let's just do it next week," too
There was also a "tug-of-war over time" regarding lunch. Around 12:26 p.m., Judge Jee said, "If possible, to conclude (the trial) today, we will start at 1:50 p.m., 10 minutes earlier (for the afternoon session)," to which one defense attorney said, "We need about two hours for lunch, isn't that moving it up by 40 minutes?" adding, "Please consider the defense's human rights a bit."
Judge Jee responded, "There's a lot to do; can't we start about 10 minutes early?" and the attorney replied, "It seems impossible anyway today." In the end, Judge Jee said, "All right then, we'll resume at 2 p.m." Lunch ultimately lasted 1 hour and 30 minutes.
The documentary evidence review was led by the side of former Minister Kim. During a recess around 6:20 p.m., attorney Lee Ha-sang for former Minister Kim told Special Counsel Park Eok-su, "Let's just do (an additional session) next week," and Park shot back, "Aren't you taking too long?" Attorney Lee replied, "We're on the same team."
It was observed that the former president Yoon sat at the defendants' table with eyes closed for most of the hearing. After the afternoon session began, Yoon kept his head down with eyes closed, then suddenly looked up as if startled, and reportedly nodded off several times afterward.
A legal community source said, "The former president Yoon sometimes dozed in court even when he handled trials as a prosecutor," adding, "With the hearing running long, there seems to be an unavoidable aspect." After returning, Yoon was said to have briefly reviewed documents with his attorneys and exchanged short remarks.
The side of former Minister Kim conducted the documentary evidence review from the start of the hearing until 5 p.m., and said it would continue with additional documentary evidence review after the reviews for other defendants, including former Administrator Cho, are completed. With the extended documentary evidence review and statements, there is talk that the session could run past midnight.