The court has permitted a live broadcast of the first-instance verdict hearing for former President Yoon Suk Yeol's alleged violation of election laws.
According to legal sources on July 23, the Seoul Central District Court's Criminal Division 21, led by Judge Jo Soon-pyo, accepted requests from broadcasters to cover the verdict scheduled for July 27 at 2 PM.
The court will transmit video footage captured with its own equipment to the broadcasters in real-time.
Additionally, the special prosecutor's team, led by Kim Geon-hee, has also been granted permission for a recorded broadcast, which will be released after the verdict is announced.
Yoon is accused of making false statements during a discussion hosted by the Kwanhun Club on December 14, 2021, when he claimed, "I did not introduce a certain lawyer to former Yongsan Tax Office head Yoon Woo-jin," which is alleged to be untrue. He was indicted in December of last year.
He is also accused of spreading false information during an interview at the launch of the Buddhist Leaders Forum in January 2022, where he stated, "I was introduced to Geon-jin Beopsa by party officials, and I have never met him with Kim Geon-hee."
The special prosecutor's office suspects that Yoon did introduce the lawyer to Yoon and that he first met Geon-jin Beopsa through Kim Geon-hee, maintaining a relationship for over ten years.
In last month's closing arguments, the special prosecutor's office sought a two-year prison sentence for Yoon. If a fine of over 1 million won is confirmed in this case, the People Power Party will be required to return 39.7 billion won in election funds to the National Election Commission.
* This article has been translated by AI.
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