Yoon Suk Yeol, sentenced to 30 years in prison for allegedly deploying drones in Pyongyang to justify the declaration of martial law, faced the first session of his appeal hearing behind closed doors.
On July 29, the Seoul High Court's Criminal Division 1, led by Judge Yoon Seong-sik, convened the initial hearing for Yoon, former Defense Minister Kim Yong-hyun, former National Defense Intelligence Command Chief Yeo In-hyung, and former Drone Operations Commander Kim Yong-dae, who are charged with treason and abuse of power.
However, the hearing was switched to a closed session just 26 minutes after it began. The court cited concerns over national security and the potential leak of military secrets, but the defense team strongly objected, arguing that the right to a public trial is a constitutional guarantee.
The court stated, "This case involves numerous military secrets and national security-related matters, and the first trial was also conducted in private with mutual consent. Currently, there are no circumstances that warrant a different judgment, so we will proceed with the appeal hearing in private as per Article 109 of the Constitution."
In response, the defense team emphasized the principle of a public trial, asserting that not allowing public access to the proceedings undermines the rights of the defendants, especially given the severe 30-year sentence imposed in the first trial. They argued that the core details of the case are already widely known through media coverage, making a complete closure of the proceedings unnecessary.
The defense also criticized the special prosecutor's written submissions, claiming they merely echoed the judge's previous comments, raising concerns that the judge's remarks may have influenced the special prosecutor's desire for a closed session.
Despite the defense's objections, the court maintained its decision for a closed hearing, stating, "The nature of what is reported in the media and what is presented in court by the prosecutor and the judge is entirely different. If there is any possibility that public access could jeopardize national security, that must be our primary consideration."
However, the court acknowledged the importance of public trials and indicated that it would consider allowing approximately 30 minutes of public proceedings starting from the next session, without discussing confidential matters. The court also promised to provide an opportunity for the defendants to express their views at an appropriate time, referencing the sealed indictment and the criteria for public sentencing in the first trial.
Yoon and others were indicted by the special prosecutor's team in October 2024 for allegedly orchestrating a series of drone incursions into Pyongyang to provoke North Korean military responses, thereby creating a pretext for declaring martial law and leaking military secrets.
The first trial court determined that the drone incursion operation severely compromised South Korea's military interests. It found Yoon and Kim jointly guilty of treason, sentencing both to 30 years in prison. Yeo received a 15-year sentence, while Kim Yong-dae was sentenced to three years in prison, with a five-year probation.
* This article has been translated by AI.
Copyright ⓒ Aju Press All rights reserved.