Former President Yoon Suk-yeol was seen entering the courtroom on the 12th for his third trial over charges of being the ringleader of a rebellion. This was because, unlike the first and second trials, the court did not allow Yoon's underground entry this time. Yoon entered the courtroom after passing through the so-called photo line set up in front of the courthouse. However, he did not say anything in response to reporters' questions.
The 25th Criminal Division of the Seoul Central District Court (Director General Ji Kwi-yeon) held Yoon's third trial on charges of being the ringleader of a rebellion from 10:15 a.m. to 6:50 p.m. on that day.
Former President Yoon arrived at the entrance of the west wing of the Seoul Central District Court around 9:55 a.m. and walked into the courtroom. He maintained silence in response to questions from reporters. He entered and exited the courtroom four times: once at the beginning and again briefly during a recess, and finally when leaving. During this time, reporters asked various questions including, "Do you have any intention to apologize for the declaration of emergency martial law?" but he walked away expressionless without saying a word.
Former President Yoon did not make any statements during the trial that day. This was in contrast to his previous statements of about 97 minutes during the first trial and about 7 minutes during the second trial. However, he discussed something with his legal team several times before and during the trial proceedings.
Meanwhile, on that day, witness testimonies were conducted for former Defense Commander Oh Sang-bae (Captain) and Park Jeong-hwan, Chief of Staff of the Special Warfare Command, who appeared as witnesses for the prosecution.
Captain Oh, who was the first witness, is known to have taken a car to the National Assembly alongside former Defense Commander Lee Jin-woo during the emergency martial law on the 12th and 3rd.
Captain Oh testified that he heard about four phone calls between former Commander Lee and former President Yoon that day. He said he saw 'President' marked on the secure line, and although it was not on speakerphone, he heard former President Yoon's voice. Regarding the phone call's content, he said, "When Lee said, 'There are too many people, so I can't get in,' former President Yoon replied, 'Go into the main conference hall and have four people carry one out.'] He also said, "Former President Yoon mentioned, 'Break down the door even if you have to shoot.'" After the resolution to lift the martial law was passed in the National Assembly, he mentioned that he heard former President Yoon say, 'Even if the resolution passed, martial law can be declared two or three more times.'
Former President Yoon's legal team pointed out the credibility of Captain Oh's testimony during their cross-examination. Yoon's attorney noted that Captain Oh's testimony contradicted the earlier statement by former Commander Lee, who had said he spoke with former President Yoon three times. Additionally, they stated, "It's unusual for someone to remember details better than the person who directly spoke with the President." In response, Captain Oh remarked that "it's also unusual for a lieutenant to listen to a President's call," stating that, "It was my first time hearing former President Yoon's call, so it stood out more in my memory."
The court suspended the trial in the middle of Captain Park's cross-examination due to time constraints at around 5:25 p.m. The remaining questions from the prosecution and cross-examination by former President Yoon's legal team will be conducted at the next court session.
During that day, Chief of Staff Park testified about the situation of airlifting members of the 707th Special Mission Battalion by helicopter to the National Assembly during the martial law. He stated that when he entered the combat control room, former Commander Kwak Jong-geun was already in a video conference with former Defense Minister Kim Yong-hyun, and he was instructed to check whether the Special Operations Aviation Command (SOAC) helicopters had departed and the 707th Special Mission Battalion was ready for deployment. However, when asked by the prosecution, "Did former Minister Kim give any specific orders to send the 707th Special Mission Battalion by helicopter to the National Assembly?" he replied, "There were no specific mission instructions like that." He added, "Former Commander Kwak received calls on the secure line as a kind of urgency regarding the current deployment status."
The court suspended the trial during Chief of Staff Park's examination due to time constraints. The remaining cross-examination by the prosecution and counter-examination by former President Yoon's team will be conducted at the next session.
Former President Yoon's next trial will be held on May 19 at 10:15 a.m. The court also decided to conduct witness testimony for Lee Sang-hyun, former head of the 1st Airborne Special Forces Brigade, who is a prosecution witness, that afternoon.