Yoon verdict set for January 16

Dec 17, 2025, 09:47 am

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Former President Yoon Suk Yeol attends the first trial hearing on charges including obstruction of official duties at the Seoul Central District Court in Seocho District, Seoul, on September 26. / Pool photo

A Seoul court said it is expected to deliver a verdict on January 16 in the trial of former President Yoon Suk Yeol over charges including obstructing the execution of an arrest warrant.

The Seoul Central District Court’s Criminal Division 35, presided over by Judge Baek Dae-hyun, made the announcement during Yoon’s 14th hearing on December 16. The panel cited provisions of the Special Prosecutor Act on Insurrection, which require courts to prioritize trials brought by a special prosecutor and to hand down a first-instance ruling within six months of indictment.

The special prosecutor filed charges on July 19, meaning the court must issue a verdict no later than January 19 next year, the presiding judge said. He added that if the defense seeks to call additional witnesses, the court will decide on their admissibility on December 19 and proceed toward closing arguments. If that proves difficult, one additional hearing will be held to conclude arguments on December 26.

The case centers on five charges, including obstructing the execution of an arrest warrant, infringing on Cabinet members’ deliberation rights by excluding them from a Cabinet meeting ahead of the declaration of martial law, drafting and destroying a false martial law document after the declaration, deleting secure phone records, and disseminating false information related to the martial law episode.

Prosecutors allege that on December 3, Yoon notified only some Cabinet members of the meeting, thereby infringing on other ministers’ constitutional right to deliberate and vote. He is also accused of fabricating an official document to make it appear that the declaration of martial law had been signed by the prime minister and the defense minister, and then destroying it after martial law was lifted.

Separately, Yoon is standing trial before another panel at the Seoul Central District Court on charges including leading an insurrection. A related case involving allegations of aiding the enemy over a purported drone intrusion into Pyongyang is being heard by a different division. Additional cases, including charges of helping suspects evade capture and abuse of authority, have been assigned to other criminal divisions, while a perjury case linked to former Prime Minister Han Duck-soo’s trial is scheduled to begin on January 13.

#Yoon Suk Yeol #obstruction charges #martial law case #Special Prosecutor Act #Seoul Central District Court