Former President Yoon Suk-yeol arriving at court. Yonhap News.  

The first formal trial for former President Yoon Suk-yeol, who faces additional charges from the special prosecutor's team investigating mutiny, began on the 26th.

The Criminal Division 35 of the Seoul Central District Court (Presiding Judge Baek Dae-hyun) held the first hearing for the case, which includes charges of obstruction of official duty and abuse of power against former President Yoon, at 10:15 AM today.

Former President Yoon departed from Seoul Detention Center around 8:35 AM today and arrived at the Seocho-dong Court Complex around 9:40 AM. He waited in the detention area within the court before appearing in the courtroom.

This marks the first time former President Yoon has appeared for his trial in 85 days, since his appearance on July 3rd for charges related to leading a mutiny. After being re-detained by the special prosecutor's team, Yoon had been absent from the ongoing mutiny trial 11 consecutive times due to health reasons.

Today, former President Yoon entered the courtroom wearing a navy suit with no tie. His hair was visibly graying, and his face appeared thinner than before.

He wore a badge on his left chest with the inmate number "3617." While it is reported that he was handcuffed and bound during his transfer from the detention center to the court, these restraints were removed before he entered the courtroom.

Standing at the defendant's dock, when the presiding judge asked for his identification during the affirmation of identity, former President Yoon replied, "December 8, 1960, Acrovissta Unit ○○." He stated that he did not wish for a jury trial to determine guilt or innocence.

Approximately one minute of filming was permitted before the trial officially began, as authorized by the court. The proceedings of today's trial will be broadcast, and the trial video will be released online after undergoing anonymization processes for personal information.

This is the first instance of a trial process in a lower court, rather than a sentencing, being broadcast live. Previously, the sentencing for the criminal trials of former Presidents Park Geun-hye and Lee Myung-bak were broadcast live.

Former President Yoon is accused of obstructing the execution of an arrest warrant, infringing upon the right to deliberate and vote on martial law for nine cabinet members who did not attend the State Council meeting before the declaration of emergency martial law, and for posthumously drafting and discarding the martial law proclamation.

The first trial will include the notification of the right to remain silent and the affirmation of identity, followed by opening statements. Accordingly, the prosecution will read out the gist of the indictment, and former President Yoon's side will present their stance. Immediately after the trial concludes, a hearing will be held on the bail request (release with conditions such as a bond) filed by former President Yoon.

Yonhap News