Yoon's First Criminal Trial Appearance... Yoon's Side "Clear Illegal Detention, Expecting Wise Decision"

President Yoon Seok-yeol, who has been indicted on charges of leading a rebellion, attended his first criminal trial held on the 20th, while his legal team argued for the cancellation of his detention, stating that "the illegal detention is too obvious."

Yoon Gap-geun, the lawyer representing President Yoon Seok-yeol, is attending the 9th hearing of President Yoon Seok-yeol's impeachment trial held at the Constitutional Court in Jongno-gu, Seoul on February 18, 2025, and stating his position. Photo by Joint Press Corps

On the 20th, the 25th Criminal Division of the Seoul Central District Court (Presiding Judge Ji Gui-yeon) held the first preparatory hearing for President Yoon's charge of leading a rebellion and a hearing on the request to cancel his detention at 10 a.m. Ahead of President Yoon's first criminal trial, his lawyer Yoon Gap-geun said, "The grounds for detention have disappeared, and it is very clear that he is currently being illegally detained," adding, "We expect the presiding judge to make a wise decision."

Lawyer Yoon stated, "We still maintain the position that the emergency martial law is not a rebellion," and added, "Since the records have not yet been copied, the preparatory hearing is not sufficiently prepared, but we plan to fully participate in the hearing on the request to cancel detention." Regarding the possibility of President Yoon speaking directly, he said, "It will be decided depending on the progress of the trial."

However, concerning whether President Yoon will attend the 10th impeachment trial session scheduled for the afternoon, he said, "Nothing has been decided." Lawyer Yoon explained, "The schedule is very tight, so depending on the progress of the trial, the Constitutional Court schedule may be disrupted," and added, "There is currently no decision regarding the possibility of not attending the impeachment trial."

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