[News Today] Yoon’s trial halts after recusal request

[LEAD]

Former President Yoon Suk Yeol's appeals trial on charges of leading an insurrection has formally begun. But Yoon failed to appear at the very first hearing, even though he was required to attend.

His legal team has filed a motion to disqualify the judges, meaning the trial could now be put on hold for some time.

[REPORT]

Ji Gwi-yeon / First-trial Presiding Judge (Feb. 19)

The defendant Yoon Suk Yeol is sentenced to life imprisonment.

Eighty-four days after receiving a life sentence from the court of first instance, the first appeal trial hearing for former President Yoon Suk Yeol on charges of leading an insurrection was held.

However, Yoon failed to appear.

He took issue with the appellate court's recent verdict against former Prime Minister Han Duck-soo, who was found guilty.

Yoon's legal defense team filed a motion to disqualify the judges.

It said no fair trial can be expected, as the judges in question had already ruled the December 3 emergency martial law declaration to be illegal.

The court has decided to halt proceedings for Yoon and some others, and handle only the remaining cases, including the case for former National Police Agency Commissioner General Cho Ji-ho.

Lee Seung-cheol / Seoul High Court Criminal Division 12-1 (May 14)

The trial date for defendant Yoon Suk Yeol will be set again later.

The decision whether to replace the judges will be reached by another insurrection tribunal.

Until then, hearings into Yoon's case will be suspended.

If the motion to disqualify the judges is dismissed, Yoon's legal team could ask for a ruling from the Supreme Court, and the trial may be delayed again.

Yoon, who also neglected his obligation to appear in court during the first trial, is once again delaying a court ruling on his emergency martial law declaration.