South Korea Supreme Court Allows Live Broadcast of Yoon Verdict, Rejects His Objection

The Supreme Court of South Korea said Tuesday it will allow a live broadcast of its verdict in the obstruction of justice case against former President Yoon Suk Yeol. The ruling is scheduled for 2 p.m. Thursday and will be the court's first decision on charges stemming from Yoon's declaration of martial law on Dec.

3, 2024, Yonhap reported. Special counsel Cho Eun-suk's team requested the broadcast on July 3. Yoon's legal team opposed the request, arguing it could cause irreparable harm to his right to a fair trial and to his personal rights and reputation.

The court rejected the objection. Broadcasters will transmit footage recorded with the court's own equipment. Yoon is accused of ordering bodyguards to block investigators from executing a detention warrant in January 2025.

He also faces charges of violating the rights of nine Cabinet members by excluding them from an advance review of the martial law plan and of falsifying public documents by revising the proclamation after it was lifted and later discarding the record.

An appeals court sentenced Yoon to seven years in prison in April after convicting him on the obstruction charges. The term was two years longer than the lower court's sentence and below the 10 years recommended by the special counsel team.

Yoon's main trial on insurrection charges arising from the martial law bid remains ongoing at an appellate court, where he received a life sentence in the first ruling.