The Criminal Agreement Division 35 of the Seoul Central District Court (Presiding Judge Baek Dae-hyun) recognized the abuse of power charge at the first-instance sentencing hearing for former President Yoon, who was indicted on charges including "obstructing an arrest," held at 2 p.m. on the 16th.
The court said it was difficult to view the defendant as having been in an urgent enough situation to justify not sending a convocation notice to all Cabinet members before the declaration of martial law.
It went on, "The defendant's failure to send a notice convening the Cabinet meeting to seven Cabinet members, including the Minister of Education and the Minister of Science and ICT, thereby preventing those Cabinet members from attending the Cabinet meeting, constitutes an act that abused authority and infringed on each Cabinet member's deliberation right," adding, "The defendant's intent is also deemed established, and therefore this part, abuse of power and obstruction of another's rights, is found guilty."