Synopsis
Former South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol has been granted permission to enter a district court via an underground parking lot for his first criminal trial hearing on insurrection charges next week. The decision comes amid security concerns and potential protests during the proceedings.Key Takeaways
- Yoon Suk Yeol to enter court via underground parking.
- First trial hearing on insurrection charges next week.
- Security measures implemented due to expected protests.
- Yoon was ousted from office after impeachment upheld.
- Previous president Park Geun-hye also removed from office.
Seoul, April 11 (NationPress) A Seoul court announced on Friday that it has approved former South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol to access a district court through an underground parking facility upon his request for the upcoming first criminal trial hearing next week regarding insurrection charges.
The Seoul High Court outlined security measures prior to Yoon's hearing scheduled for Monday, indicating that a significant crowd is expected to gather for protests in the vicinity of the Seoul district court where the proceedings will take place.
This decision was made following a request from the Presidential Security Service (PSS) to permit Yoon to enter through the underground parking lot due to security issues.
"If the PSS makes such a request, we will grant it," remarked a court official.
The first session of Yoon's criminal trial is set to take place on Monday, concerning his brief declaration of martial law in December. He was officially removed from his position last Friday, after the Constitutional Court upheld his impeachment.
The Seoul High Court, which oversees the district court complex, has yet to determine if this entry method will be permitted for future hearings.
On the day of the hearing, the court will restrict vehicle access, except for official cars designated for specific tasks, beginning at 8 p.m. on Friday until midnight on Monday.
It has also recommended that its staff utilize public transportation instead of personal vehicles on the day, according to Yonhap news agency.
Meanwhile, Yoon, who rapidly ascended from a top prosecutor to the presidency in just three years, has become the nation's second president to be formally ousted from office, following his controversial martial law attempt that unsettled the nation and intensified political division.
With this ruling, Yoon, 64, joins the ranks of former South Korean President Park Geun-hye, who was removed in 2017 when the Constitutional Court upheld her impeachment linked to a corruption scandal.
Prior to his presidency, Yoon began as a prosecutor in 1994, advancing through the ranks to lead an investigation into Park's corruption scandal, which ultimately resulted in her ousting and subsequent imprisonment.
In 2019, he was appointed as the nation's top prosecutor under then-President Moon Jae-in but faced conflicts with the administration while overseeing investigations involving family members of former Justice Minister Cho Kuk.
Amid growing pressure from the Moon administration, Yoon resigned from his position in 2021, shortly entering politics and winning the presidential election in 2022 as the conservative People Power Party's candidate.
Yoon's presidency was marked by disputes with a non-compliant National Assembly dominated by the main opposition Democratic Party (DP). He exercised his veto power against 25 bills passed by the National Assembly.
Tensions with the DP escalated significantly in early December when the opposition introduced motions to impeach the nation's top auditor and a senior prosecutor, leading Yoon to declare martial law on December 3, which ultimately resulted in his downfall.
