Former President Yoon Suk Yeol testifies at Seoul Central District Courtroom, Nov. 19. Courtesy of Seoul Central District Courtroom
One yr after the nation discovered itself all of the sudden below martial legislation, an occasion that shook Korea’s political system and precipitated the removing of a sitting president, the investigations and trials stemming from that night time nonetheless dominate Seoul’s courtrooms.
Former President Yoon Suk Yeol, faraway from workplace by impeachment for his Dec. 3 martial legislation declaration, now stands as a prison defendant going through a number of indictments. He seems in courtroom nearly each day as three particular counsel groups pursue prices together with main an tried rebellion, violating nationwide safety legal guidelines and abusing his presidential authority.
The inside circle that after ruled alongside him has additionally been dispersed into associated authorized instances, with a number of former senior officers both indicted or detained. As further proof and testimonies emerge, the complete scope of the occasions continues to return into clearer view.
Yoon Suk Yeol
Yoon now sits on the middle of the unfolding authorized drama. The primary trial accuses him of orchestrating the plan to impose martial legislation.
The courtroom has continued hearings all through the winter recess to maintain the case shifting ahead. Prosecutors are anticipated to ship their sentencing advice in early January, adopted by closing arguments. A primary-instance ruling is anticipated round mid-February. Testimony has centered on whether or not the navy and intelligence directives issued within the hours earlier than the try had been lawful or politically pushed.
Separate proceedings deal with the so-called Pyongyang drone affair, through which he’s accused of mishandling intelligence and directing improper responses inside authorities channels.
Taken collectively, the previous president is preventing on a number of fronts, with three particular counsel groups coordinating their inquiries as courtroom dates converge.
Former Prime Minister Han Duck-soo delivers his last assertion throughout a sentencing listening to at Seoul Central District Courtroom, Nov. 26. Courtesy of Seoul Central District Courtroom
Han Duck-soo
Former Prime Minister Han Duck-soo, who briefly served as performing head of state after Yoon’s removing, can be on trial. He’s charged with aiding the tried imposition of martial legislation, finishing up key duties tied to the operation and committing perjury throughout Yoon’s impeachment. His last listening to concluded in late November and a verdict is anticipated in late January.
Footage from the presidential workplace has figured prominently within the case. The video, recorded within the reception corridor and workplace suite on the night of Dec. 3, exhibits Han dealing with paperwork associated to the martial legislation plan — regardless of his earlier testimony that he had by no means seen them.
After the footage was submitted, Han conceded that his earlier statements had been inaccurate. Prosecutors say he failed in his function because the Cupboard’s vice chair by neglecting to examine the president’s actions and by signing paperwork ready exterior established procedures.
Han has remained free whereas awaiting judgment.
Former Protection Minister Kim Yong-hyun speaks as a witness throughout the fourth listening to of President Yoon Suk Yeol’s impeachment trial on the Constitutional Courtroom in Jongno District, Seoul, Nov. 23. Courtesy of the Constitutional Courtroom
Kim Yong-hyun
Former Protection Minister Kim Yong-hyun is among the many highest-ranking officers now in detention. Throughout the hearings, prosecutors offered video displaying him shifting between rooms and signaling along with his fingers to point what number of Cupboard members had been nonetheless wanted for quorum on the emergency assembly that preceded the declaration.
The footage additionally exhibits him directing ministers into the president’s workplace, reviewing paperwork and holding additional discussions after the temporary Cupboard session ended.
Prosecutors forged Kim as a central participant in advancing the president’s plan. His case has been folded into the broader proceedings tied to Yoon’s trial, with sentencing requests anticipated after the consolidated hearings conclude in January. Kim denies any wrongdoing however stays in custody awaiting a verdict.
Kim Keon Hee, the detained partner of ousted former President Yoon Suk Yeol, arrives for her listening to at Seoul Central District Courtroom in Seocho District, Seoul, Sept. 24. Joint Press Corps
Kim Keon Hee
Former first girl Kim Keon Hee can be in detention as her trials advance. Along with a inventory manipulation case through which she was already indicted, she faces prices over allegedly accepting costly gadgets from figures linked to the Unification Church, doable violations of political funding legal guidelines and her function in casual networks across the presidency.
Particular counsel investigators questioned her once more after a current sentencing advice, specializing in gadgets together with a gold turtle decoration, a luxurious necklace and different items prosecutors say could represent improper advantages.
Her courtroom schedule overlaps with the broader instances stemming from the occasions of Dec. 3. Investigators are analyzing whether or not any of her contacts or communications had implications for nationwide safety issues or influenced decision-making contained in the presidential workplace. She denies the allegations. A ruling is anticipated early subsequent yr, inside the limits of her detention interval.
Yeo In-hyung, former head of the Protection Counterintelligence Command, testifies as a witness throughout a listening to for former President Yoon Suk Yeol’s trial on prices of main an tried rebellion and abusing presidential authority at Seoul Central District Courtroom, Oct. 24. Courtesy of the Seoul Central District Courtroom
Yeo In-hyung
Yeo In-hyung, chief of the Protection Counterintelligence Command who has been described in courtroom because the plan’s de facto operational head, stays some of the essential witnesses within the consolidated instances after a number of courtroom appearances.
Yeo has formed a lot of the judicial document along with his accounts of being instructed to draft emergency decrees, prepared navy items for deployment to the Nationwide Meeting and the Nationwide Election Fee and determine websites to carry detained political figures.
Yeo had denied any wrongdoing, saying he acted below orders from senior management, however modified his stance after further detention and has expressed regret for his function.
Different officers, together with former Capital Protection Command chief Noh Sang-won, have additionally been tied to the operational chain of command. Their tasks — largely involving troop actions and coordination — stay below overview because the merged proceedings transfer ahead.
A yr after the martial legislation fiasco, practically each main determine as soon as linked to the presidency or the nationwide safety institution is now earlier than the courts.
Proof together with presidential workplace video recordsdata, draft paperwork and witness testimony has sharpened the image of the essential hours main as much as the decree. Nonetheless, key questions of intent and accountability stay for judges to resolve. With main rulings anticipated in January and February, the approaching months will mark a decisive stage within the authorized reckoning after an episode that reshaped Korea’s political panorama.
