Verdict in Yoon's first trial expected as soon as late July
President Yoon Suk Yeol’s chief of staff, Chung Jin-suk, and other senior aides from the presidential office visited Yoon at the Seoul Detention Center on Friday.
Five senior aides met with Yoon at a designated place inside the detention center from 10 a.m. to 10:30 a.m., the presidential office said Friday.
A senior official from the presidential office said that "the President is in good health and maintaining a composed demeanor. He urged the presidential office staff, as the core of state affairs, not to feel discouraged and to do their best in their respective roles."
Yoon reportedly also asked his aides whether the health care system was functioning well and if senior citizens faced any inconveniences, adding that "(the detention center) is also a place where people live. I’m doing well."
They were the first to visit Yoon since he was detained on Jan. 19 and the first since the Corruption Investigation Office for High-ranking Officials lifted visitation restrictions on Yoon on Jan. 24. Visitation at the prison had remained restricted due to the Lunar New Year holiday.
From today, Yoon is expected to continue meeting with key aides from the ruling People Power Party through scheduled visits.
However, as only one visit is allowed per day, scheduling must be coordinated with the authorities. For that reason, many speculate that first lady Kim Keon Hee won’t visit Yoon at the detention center for the time being.
Meanwhile, local media reported Friday that Yoon, who was indicted on Jan. 26 on the charge of leading an insurrection, may receive a first verdict as soon as late July.
While there is a possibility that Yoon will be tried in the same court division alongside his alleged co-conspirators such as former Defense Minister Kim Yong-hyun, the Seoul Central District Court is expected to assign Yoon’s case early next week.
It is likely that the case will be allocated to Criminal Division 25 of the Seoul Central District Court, which has been handling the Dec. 3 martial law case.
Among those previously indicted on charges of insurrection are former Defense Minister Kim Yong-hyun, Police Commissioner General Cho Ji-ho, former Seoul Metropolitan Police Commissioner Kim Bong-shik, former Intelligence Commander Roh Sang-won, and former Colonel Kim Yong-gun. All of their cases have been assigned to Criminal Division 25.
If Yoon’s case is merged with these cases, he could stand trial alongside the military and police leadership, as the indictment suggests that the facts and charges against Yoon and his co-conspirators overlap significantly.
Once the case is assigned, preliminary hearings are expected to begin in February, with the main trial starting in March. Given the unprecedented circumstances of trying a sitting president, it is anticipated that the court will conduct an expedited trial through intensive hearings.
Under court regulations, if intensive hearings are required, the court can halt the assignment of new cases and hold two to three hearings per week. Former President Park Geun-hye had up to four hearings per week in 2017, while former President Lee Myung-bak had up to three in 2020.
ddd@heraldcorp.com
