The formal trial of People Power Party lawmaker Choo Kyung-ho, who was sent to trial on charges of obstructing the National Assembly's vote to lift martial law during the Dec. 3 emergency martial law, will begin on the 25th of next month. Choo's side asked the court to consider the election schedule, saying he is set to run for Daegu mayor in the June 3 local elections, but the court decided to proceed as scheduled.
According to legal sources on the 9th, the Seoul Central District Court Criminal Agreement Division 34 (Presiding Judge Han Sung-jin) held the second pretrial conference in the case of Choo's charge of engaging in an important mission related to insurrection and decided to hold the first trial on Mar. 25.
A pretrial conference is a procedure to confirm both sides' positions and discuss plans of proof before a full hearing. The defendant is not required to appear. Choo did not appear that day.
Choo is accused of changing the venue for a party caucus three times—National Assembly→party headquarters→National Assembly→party headquarters—during emergency martial law, preventing many People Power Party lawmakers from attending the vote to lift martial law.
Choo's attorney also asked the court to consider that the client is a prospective candidate in the June local elections. The point was that full-fledged campaigning begins one month before the June 3 election day, which could restrict court attendance. Choo declared in December last year that he would run for Daegu mayor.
However, the court said, "We are handling several special counsel cases, so there are many constraints. Even if there are difficulties (in appearing in court), please understand the court's circumstances." It added that hearings would be held on Wednesdays as much as possible.
Meanwhile, during the hearing that day, Choo's side and the special counsel also sparred over whether to examine closed-circuit (CC)TV evidence.
The special counsel said it would ensure speed by examining witnesses after organizing the movements and actions of Choo and the witnesses, and announced it would present two hours of footage at the first hearing. Choo's side countered that, to guarantee the right to defense, only the necessary portions should be presented during the examination of witnesses.