The appeal hearing for Yoon Suk Yeol, who was sentenced to a lengthy prison term for allegedly infiltrating drones into Pyongyang to justify the declaration of martial law, will proceed behind closed doors, similar to the first trial. The court cited national security concerns for this decision, but Yoon and other defendants, including former Defense Minister Kim Yong-hyun, protested for a public trial.
On July 15, the Seoul High Court's Criminal Division 1, led by Judge Yoon Seong-sik, held the first preparatory hearing for the appeal of Yoon, Kim Yong-hyun, former Army Counterintelligence Command Chief Yeo In-hyung, and former Drone Operations Command Chief Kim Yong-dae, who are charged with treason and abuse of power.
The court stated, "Given the nature of the case, it is deemed necessary to conduct the proceedings privately to ensure national security," and decided to hold the appeal reason statements in private. However, the court indicated that the public nature of future witness examinations and evidence investigations would be determined on a case-by-case basis.
During the hearing, both sides engaged in a dispute over the trial's public nature. The special prosecutor's team argued that the drone operations and internal military decision-making involved numerous military secrets, making a closed trial unavoidable for national security. In contrast, Yoon's defense team insisted that a public trial was essential to uphold the public's right to know and the defendants' right to a fair defense.
A lawyer for Yoon stated, "Holding a trial in secret for a case that carries a 30-year sentence could give the impression of a 'rigged trial' to the public," arguing that only sensitive parts should be kept confidential. Kim Yong-hyun, who attended the court in person, also remarked, "While it is true that some national security-related content is included, it is not to the extent that it cannot be disclosed."
Former Commander Kim added, "The special prosecutor has misrepresented the military's unique nature as if it were a criminal act," emphasizing the need for a public trial to allow for objective public judgment.
However, the court dismissed the defendants' arguments. It explained, "If the trial were to be public, there could be individuals with ulterior motives who take an interest, and the court would bear responsibility for that. Therefore, any aspect that could potentially harm national security must be prioritized in our considerations."
The defense team immediately objected, submitting a request for the court to reconsider the decision on public access and maintaining their stance that the appeal reason statements should be conducted in a public courtroom.
Yoon and others are accused of plotting and executing operations to deploy drones into North Korea's Pyongyang after October 2024 to create a pretext for declaring martial law.
In the previous trial, the court determined that the drone deployment severely compromised national security and military interests, sentencing Yoon and Kim to 30 years in prison each. Yeo received a 15-year sentence, while Kim was sentenced to three years with a five-year probation. Both the special prosecutor and the defendants have appealed the verdict.
The appellate court concluded the preparatory hearing and is set to hold the first formal hearing on July 29, where substantive proceedings will begin.
* This article has been translated by AI.
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