Will Yoon Suk Yeol Walk Free? Court Hearing Sparks National Debate

The Seoul Central District Court concluded a closed-door hearing on Friday afternoon to review the legality of former President Yoon Suk Yeol’s arrest over his alleged attempt to declare martial law on December 3, 2024.

According to Yonhap News Agency, the court is expected to reach a decision within 24 hours of the hearing’s conclusion at 4:15 p.m. If the court rules in Yoon’s favor, he could be released or granted bail. However, if the court rejects Yoon’s claims, he will remain in custody without the option to appeal.

The hearing at the Seoul Central District Court commenced at 10:15 a.m., following Yoon’s filing for a court review on Wednesday to determine the legality of his arrest.

Yoon arrived at the courthouse at 9 a.m., marking his first in-person court appearance since his rearrest. He was escorted directly to a holding cell in a transport vehicle, avoiding any contact with the media.

Yoon was rearrested at the Seoul Detention Center on July 10 – just 124 days after his release in March. The court had accepted the special counsel’s request for an arrest warrant against him on key charges related to his alleged imposition of martial law, citing concerns over potential evidence tampering.

Since then, Yoon has refused to comply with both voluntary and compulsory summons, citing health concerns.

In the morning session, Yoon’s legal team reportedly presented a 140-slide PowerPoint presentation. They argued that the criminal charges outlined in Yoon’s arrest warrant lacked substantial evidence and that there was no risk of evidence tampering, thus justifying his release.

Yoon’s attorneys also claimed that his poor health had prevented him from participating in legal proceedings, which is why he chose to appear in court to explain his condition personally.

However, the special counsel team disputed these claims.

Assistant special prosecutor Park Ji-young informed reporters on Friday that they had submitted a 100-page official statement to the court on Thursday, along with a separate 100-slide PowerPoint presentation refuting Yoon’s arguments.

Addressing Yoon’s health claims, Park stated that the special counsel had provided a statement from the Seoul Detention Center indicating that Yoon showed “no significant mobility issues” based on a recent internal health assessment.

While the document was not an official medical diagnosis, Park emphasized that it contained factual information verified with the detention center.

Led by prosecutor Cho Eun-suk, the special counsel was expected to present their case in the afternoon. They planned to argue that Yoon’s detention should continue, given the severity of the charges and the possibility that he could destroy evidence or influence witnesses. The team was also likely to highlight Yoon’s repeated refusal to cooperate with previous investigations.

Yoon was expected to address the court at the end of the hearing, personally highlighting his health conditions and pleading for his release.