Martial Law Scandal: Yoon Suk Yeol’s Legal Battle Begins in Seoul

A Seoul court held a hearing Friday on former President Yoon Suk Yeol’s request to challenge his arrest amid a special counsel probe into his botched attempt to impose martial law.

The closed-door hearing at the Seoul Central District Court commenced at 10:15 a.m. to assess the legality of his arrest and determine whether it should be maintained.

Yoon arrived at the court around 9 a.m. He was immediately escorted to a holding cell in a transport vehicle, avoiding any contact with the media.

The ousted president filed for judicial review on Wednesday, less than a week after his arrest at the Seoul Detention Center in Uiwang, a suburb south of the capital. He faces five key charges related to his attempt to impose martial law on December 3.

If the court rules in Yoon’s favor, he will be released and stand trial without detention. The court must deliver its verdict within 24 hours of the hearing.

Special counsel Cho Eun-suk’s team was expected to argue for maintaining the arrest, citing the gravity of the charges against Yoon and the risk of evidence tampering or witness intimidation.

The prosecution is also likely to highlight Yoon’s lack of cooperation with the investigation. He has already skipped his insurrection trial twice and declared he would boycott all future hearings unless Cho’s team is removed from the courtroom.

Yoon’s defense was expected to argue that his detention is unnecessary, asserting that he poses no flight risk and that his health is deteriorating.

Yoon’s legal team claims that the investigation by Cho’s team is unlawful, alleging serious violations of the defendant’s rights. (Yonhap)