The hearing took place at the Seoul Central District Court in southern Seoul, South Korea, at 10:00 a.m. on February 20, local time, to clarify the main contents of the case and plan for future trials.
The preliminary hearing did not require the defendant to be present, but Mr. Yoon Suk Yeol chose to attend this hearing. He wore a black vest and red tie when he appeared.
The legal representative of Mr. Yoon Suk Yeol said that they will clarify their stance on the allegations against Mr. Yoon Suk Yeol, noting that they have not yet reviewed the entire case file.
The court is scheduled to hold another preliminary hearing during the trial.
According to Yonhap, the lawyers may dismiss all allegations against Yoon Suk Yeol as they did in the presidential impeachment trial. The court then began considering Yoon Suk Yeol's request to cancel the arrest warrant and release him.
Yoon Suk Yeol has been detained since mid-January after being arrested by investigators on charges of inciting rebellion through martial law.
As the February 20 preliminary hearing began, supporters of Yoon Suk Yeol gathered near the court to call for his release. South Korean police have mobilized about 3,200 personnel around the court to control the crowd and install barriers to maintain order.
