Former South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol skipped his insurrection trial for the 13th straight time on Thursday, even as the hearing marked a milestone: the first one broadcast live online. The session took place at Seoul Central District Court, where judges noted Yoon’s ongoing absence but pushed ahead anyway. South Korean law lets them do this when a jailed defendant like Yoon can’t be forced to show up.
The court greenlit the special counsel’s push for an online stream, pointing to the case’s serious nature and the public’s need to stay informed. They limited the broadcast, though, to just before witnesses start testifying. Judges wanted to protect those witnesses’ privacy and avoid any chance their stories could sway others.
Yoon faces charges of leading an insurrection and abusing power after his brief attempt to impose martial law back in December. He hasn’t stepped foot in court since investigators arrested him in July. The special counsel team, led by Cho Eun-suk, urged the court to get tough—maybe even issue a warrant to drag him in by force. After all, Yoon did show up last week for the kickoff of a separate trial tied to the same martial law mess, according to Yonhap news.
Yoon’s defense team pushed back, blaming his no-shows on health problems and what they call “unconstitutional” flaws in the trial process.
Earlier that same day, another blow for Yoon: a Seoul court shot down his bid for bail. He applied last month, arguing it would help him mount a better defense and deal with his medical issues. But the judges weren’t convinced. They worried he might tamper with evidence and saw no strong reason to let him out.
Yoon has stayed behind bars since that July arrest—the second time the special counsel nabbed him over the failed martial law push. During last week’s bail hearing, he got 18 minutes to speak, complaining that jail time makes it tough to join his trials or answer investigators’ questions. The special counsel fought to keep him locked up, highlighting risks to evidence and how his release could stir up political drama that hurts the probe and court cases.
Beyond the main insurrection charge, Yoon also stands accused of trampling Cabinet members’ rights, tweaking the martial law order, and blocking his own arrest back in January. As his legal battles drag on, all eyes stay on this high-stakes saga in South Korea’s political scene.
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