Court Allows Filming and Live Broadcast of Yoon Sukyeol's First Trial on the 26th... Bail Hearing Request Denied

Footage to Be Released After Personal Information Is De-Identified
Court: "Reasons for Denying Bail Hearing Broadcast Will Be Announced Tomorrow"
Yoon Sukyeol to Appear in Court for the First Time in Two Months

With the first trial in the case where the special prosecutor team led by Cho Eunseok indicted former President Yoon Sukyeol for insurrection set to take place on the 26th, the court has granted permission for live broadcasting and media coverage. However, the court did not approve the request to broadcast the bail hearing, which is conditional upon possible release.

Former President Yoon Sukyeol is heading to Seoul Detention Center after completing the second pre-arrest hearing at the Seoul Central District Court in Seocho-gu, Seoul on July 9, 2025. Photo by Joint Press Corps

On the 25th, the 35th Criminal Division of the Seoul Central District Court (Presiding Judge Baek Daehyun) announced, "In response to the special prosecutor's request for live broadcasting, the court has permitted coverage of the entire first trial session scheduled for 10:15 a.m. on the 26th, in accordance with Article 11 of the Special Prosecutor Act on Insurrection." Former President Yoon has been indicted by the special prosecutor’s team on charges including obstruction of special official duties, abuse of authority, and falsification and use of official documents.

The court stated, "The footage of this trial session will be released online and elsewhere," adding, "This footage will undergo de-identification measures for personal information, similar to the handling of argument videos by the Supreme Court and Constitutional Court."

Additionally, the court approved media requests to film inside the courtroom. As a result, images and videos of former President Yoon seated at the defendant’s table will be released to the public through the media. In accordance with Supreme Court regulations regarding courtroom attendance and filming, filming will be limited to before the start of the trial session.

However, the court rejected the request to broadcast the bail hearing, which will take place after the conclusion of the first trial session. Previously, on the 19th, former President Yoon requested bail from the court, citing the need to protect his right to a substantive defense and health-related reasons. The court explained, "We will announce in court tomorrow the reasons for denying the request for live broadcasting of that part of the proceedings."

Former President Yoon is scheduled to appear in court on the 26th. This will be his first public appearance in about two months since he attended the court’s review of the validity of his detention in July. Since being re-detained, former President Yoon has missed 11 consecutive hearings for the insurrection leadership and abuse of authority case, which is being tried by the 25th Criminal Division of the same court (Presiding Judge Ji Guyoun), citing health reasons.

On the 23rd, former President Yoon’s legal team announced to the media, "Under the Criminal Procedure Act, the defendant’s appearance is a requirement for opening a criminal trial," and added, "As this new case is a separate proceeding from the previous insurrection trial, which was held in absentia, it is absolutely necessary for him to appear at this first trial session."

Previously, the special prosecutor’s team had requested the court to allow live broadcasting of both the first trial session and the bail hearing. Special Prosecutor Park Jiyoung stated, "We made the request for live broadcasting based on Article 11, Paragraph 4 of the previous Special Prosecutor Act on Insurrection, fully considering the public’s right to know," and added, "We asked for permission to enter the courtroom and provide real-time coverage, which is different from simply allowing filming inside the courtroom."

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.