Overview

• The bench recorded Yoon Suk Yeol’s eighth consecutive no-show since his July 10 rearrest, which he attributes to health issues.
• Judges said the trial will continue without him because the Seoul Detention Center reported it cannot bring him to court by force.
• The court scheduled testimony from a Defense Counterintelligence Command official involved in the December martial-law operations.
• The panel indicated Yoon’s case is expected to be merged with the separate trials of former defense minister Kim Yong-hyun and police chief Cho Ji-ho.
• The court aims to wrap up proceedings by December under a rule allowing in absentia hearings when a defendant refuses to appear and forced transfer is deemed unworkable.