Yoon Suk Yeol and Kim Keon Hee to Attend Criminal Trial Today... First Joint Appearance in Court

Criminal Agreement Division 35 of the Seoul Central District Court, presided over by Baek Daehyeon, will hold a continued hearing at 10:15 a.m. on charges including obstruction of official duties against former President Yoon. At 10:10 a.m., Criminal Agreement Division 27, led by Insung Woo, will proceed with a hearing on Kim Keon Hee’s alleged violations of the Capital Markets Act.

Since being re-detained in July, Yoon Suk Yeol had not attended court for nearly four months. However, with key witnesses such as former Army Special Warfare Commander Gwak Jong-geun and former Deputy Chief of Presidential Security Service Kim Seong-hun testifying recently, he has begun to appear in court to actively exercise his right to defense. Kim Keon Hee, since her first hearing on September 24, has attended every session without absence.

Last month, their trial dates overlapped, but Yoon Suk Yeol did not appear in court due to health reasons, and only Kim Keon Hee was present.

However, it is unlikely the two will encounter each other at the courthouse today. The Seoul Detention Center, where Yoon is held, and the Seoul Southern Detention Center, where Kim is detained, reportedly coordinated their schedules to prevent any overlap.

At today’s hearing for Yoon Suk Yeol, Park Jong-Joon, former Chief of the Presidential Security Service, will testify again. In Kim Keon Hee’s trial, cross-examination of political broker Myung Tae-gyun is scheduled.