Yoon, who was removed from office by a unanimous ruling of the Constitutional Court on April 4, faces charges of leading an insurrection after attempting to mobilize military forces on Dec. 3. He is the fifth former South Korean president to face a criminal trial.
The proceedings are set to open at 10 a.m. As a defendant,Yoon is required to appear in court, where he was allowed to enter through an underground parking lot. The court has banned photography inside the courtroom prior to the start of the session.
At the start of the hearing, prosecutors are expected to outline Yoon's charges. He may petition the presiding judge for an opportunity to address the court.
If convicted, Yoon could face a life sentence or potentially the death penalty, according to South Korean law.
Among the witnesses scheduled to testify are Cho Sung-hyun, a commander of the Capital Defense Command, and Kim Hyung-ki, head of the First Special Forces Battalion of the Special Warfare Command. Both are expected to provide testimony regarding the events of Dec. 3.
During Yoon’s impeachment trial earlier this year at the Constitutional Court, Cho testified that he received orders from then-Capital Defense Commander Lee Jin-woo to dispatch troops to forcibly remove lawmakers from the National Assembly. Kim is believed to have been given similar instructions that same evening.
reporter
Candice Kim
candicekim1121@ajupress.com
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