On the 18th local time, the Seoul Central District Court in South Korea ruled on a detention appropriateness review application filed by former President Yoon Suk-yeol, finding that the detention measures were appropriate.
Yoon Suk-yeol will continue to be held in the Seoul Detention Center.
Former South Korean President Yoon Suk-yeol arrived at the Seoul Central District Court early on the 18th local time to attend the detention appropriateness review, which began at 10:15 local time.
On the 16th, Yoon Suk-yeol’s legal team submitted a detention appropriateness review application to the Seoul Central District Court, arguing that the arrest was unlawful and improper both legally and procedurally. They also stated that after being detained, Yoon Suk-yeol lived in a space of about 5 square meters, suffering from physical decline due to his weakened condition, with most of his time spent lying down. He found it difficult to eat and exercise; “Even if he insisted on taking diabetes medication, his blood sugar levels remained high, and he could hardly walk 70 to 80 meters without feeling breathless, showing serious abnormalities,” thus making it impossible for him to attend the criminal trial or the investigation by the Special Prosecution Unit. To directly explain his health condition, Yoon Suk-yeol chose to attend this detention appropriateness review.
The detention appropriateness review refers to the court’s process of examining the legality and necessity of an individual’s detention. According to South Korea’s Criminal Procedure Law, upon receiving a detention appropriateness review application, the court must question the suspect within 48 hours and conduct evidence investigations. The court will make a decision on whether to maintain or release the detention based on whether the arrest procedure is compliant, whether there are any evidence destruction or flight potential, among other factors. (CCTV Zhang Yun)