Impeached S Korean President Yoon’s criminal trial to begin next month

Impeached President Yoon Suk Yeol’s criminal trial on insurrection charges will formally begin April 14, a court said Monday.

The Seoul Central District Court announced the date during the second pretrial hearing, saying the first formal hearing will take place that day on charges Yoon incited an insurrection through his brief imposition of martial law in December.

Deputy Prime Minister Choi Sang-mok and Foreign Minister Cho Tae-yul, two witnesses requested by the prosecution, will be asked to testify at the first hearing, according to the court sources. Both Choi and Cho conveyed their concerns to Yoon before he declared martial law on Dec. 3, according to the prosecution’s indictment.

Unlike during the first pretrial hearing, Yoon was not present at the court Monday. Preparatory hearings do not require the defendant’s attendance.