The Central District Court of Seoul, South Korea, held its 11th trial for the alleged insurgency against former President Yoon Suk-yeol at 10:15 AM local time on the 17th. Yoon Suk-yeol did not attend the proceedings. This marks the second time he has missed a court session since being detained early this morning.
Several of Yoon Suk-yeol’s legal representatives attended the trial that day. They explained his absence by stating:
“The defendant was regularly taking medications for diabetes and hypertension. After being detained, his physical strength weakened, and his health worsened, leading to symptoms such as dizziness. Even going up stairs became difficult, making it challenging for him to sit in the witness box for the entire day.”
Yoon Suk-yeol’s lawyers also mentioned that the Special Investigation Team, which took over the case as the prosecution, “is unprecedented in Korean judicial history, severely infringing upon the defendant’s right to a fair trial.” Therefore, they argued, “If the Special Investigation Team does not withdraw from the trial, the defendant will not attend,” adding that “even if the defendant does not appear, the defense attorneys will participate throughout the trial according to the Criminal Procedure Law, fully cooperating with the proceedings.”
In response to the lawyer’s statement, the court clarified that if the defendant is unable to attend due to health reasons, relevant proof materials must be submitted; if there is a possibility that the Special Investigation Team’s actions violate the constitution, legal means should be used to resolve this issue. The court also urged the defense attorneys to persuade Yoon Suk-yeol to attend the trial.