Ex-President Yoon attends 1st hearing of new martial law trial

Former President Yoon Suk Yeol enters a courtroom at the Seoul Central District Court in the capital, Friday, to attend the first hearing of his second trial on charges related to his failed imposition of martial law. Yonhap

Former President Yoon Suk Yeol attended the first hearing of his second trial on martial law-related charges Friday, appearing in public for the first time since he was placed under arrest in July.

The jailed former president was brought from Seoul Detention Center, just south of the capital, to the Seoul Central District Court ahead of the hearing, which began at 10:15 a.m. and will be broadcast online after personal information is anonymized.

Dressed in a dark navy suit and appearing visibly thinner, he entered the courtroom wearing his inmate number, "3617," on his chest.

Standing in the dock, he responded to the judge's identity check by stating his birthday and home address before declining a jury trial.

Yoon, who is already standing trial on charges of leading an insurrection through his failed attempt to impose martial law in December, will be tried additionally on charges of violating the rights of Cabinet members, revising the martial law proclamation and obstructing his detention by investigators in January.

He also faces charges of ordering the deletion of call records and distribution of false statements.

The last time the ousted president appeared in public was July 9, when he attended an arrest warrant hearing. After the court issued the warrant, Yoon was incarcerated a second time, and he has since refused to attend his insurrection trial or comply with summonses by special counsel teams investigating his case.

Yoon's lawyers have said his attendance at Friday's hearing is required by law as a condition for launching the new trial.

The trial hearing will be followed by a hearing on the former president's request for bail.

Yoon will attend that hearing as well, but it will not be broadcast.

In line with the relevant law, the court will explain its reasons for denying the broadcast during the session.