Overview

• The Seoul Central District Court has granted permission for journalists to photograph and film former President Yoon Suk Yeol's second criminal trial hearing on April 21 at 10 a.m.
• Yoon faces insurrection charges stemming from his December 3, 2024, martial law declaration, which led to his impeachment and removal from office earlier this month.
• The court's decision followed a review of public interest, the defendant's opinion, and legal rights, marking a shift from its earlier denial of media access to the first hearing.
• Under court rules, filming is allowed with the defendant's consent or when justified by public interest, though Yoon's legal team reportedly opposed the decision.
• Media access aligns with precedents in past trials of former South Korean presidents, including Park Geun-hye and Lee Myung-bak, where initial hearings were also open to the press.