Prosecuted by Special Prosecutor, Yoon's First Trial to be Broadcast Live

Court Accepts Special Prosecutor's Request... Bail Hearing Broadcast Denied

Former President Yoon Seok-yeol leaving the courthouse (Seoul=Yonhap News) Former President Yoon Seok-yeol, indicted on charges of rebellion related to the December 3 state of emergency, is seen leaving the Seoul Central District Court in Seocho-gu, Seoul, after a pre-arrest warrant hearing on the 9th. 2025.7.9 [Photo Joint Press Corps] photo@yna.co.kr

The court has allowed the broadcast of the first trial date for the case of former President Yoon Seok-yeol, who was additionally indicted by the special prosecutor's team for rebellion. However, the broadcast of the bail hearing held on the same day was denied.

According to the Seoul Central District Court on the 25th, Criminal Division 35 (Presiding Judge Baek Dae-hyun) of the Seoul Central District Court, which is handling the case of former President Yoon, including charges of obstruction of special official duties and abuse of power, accepted the special prosecutor's request to allow the broadcast of the first trial scheduled for the 26th.

The court stated that filming and broadcasting using court cameras were permitted under Article 11 of the Special Prosecutor Act on Rebellion. The broadcast will cover the period from the opening of the trial at 10:15 AM on the day of the hearing until its conclusion.

However, the request to broadcast the bail hearing, which will take place on the same day, was not granted.

The court is scheduled to announce the reasons for denying the broadcast request for the bail hearing in court.

According to Article 11, Paragraph 4 of the Special Prosecutor Act on Rebellion (prior to amendment), the presiding judge shall permit broadcasting unless there are special circumstances, upon request from the special prosecutor or the defendant.

If it is determined that there are special circumstances that make it difficult to permit broadcasting, the decision to deny broadcasting may be made, and the reasons for such decision shall be announced.

The court explained, "The footage of the trial date will be made public through the internet and other means, and will undergo de-identification measures for personal information, similar to the case of broadcasted arguments by the Supreme Court and the Constitutional Court."

In addition, the court granted the media's request for permission to film in the courtroom for the case.

In accordance with the Supreme Court Rules on Court Attendance and Filming, media filming is permitted before the commencement of the trial, and filming from the judge's bench is prohibited.

The special prosecutor's team for rebellion had applied to the court the previous day for permission to broadcast the first trial date and the bail hearing for former President Yoon.

It appears that the court granted the broadcast permission after comprehensively considering the provisions of the Special Prosecutor Act and the nationwide public interest in this case.

Broadcasting of lower court trials (1st and 2nd instance) became possible when the court amended the 'Rules on Court Attendance and Filming' in August 2017.

Previously, the first-instance ruling of the state affairs manipulation case of former President Park Geun-hye in April 2018, the first-instance ruling of the NIS special activity fund case of former President Park in July of the same year, and the sentencing trial for the embezzlement and bribery case of former President Lee Myung-bak in October of the following year were all broadcast live. Yonhap News