No Cameras in Court: Why Yoon Suk-yeol’s Trial Won’t Be Televised Like Past Presidents’

Hey everyone! I’ve got some interesting news coming out of South Korea’s legal world. Apparently, the first formal criminal trial of former President Yoon Suk-yeol is just around the corner, but there’s a twist: no cameras allowed!

According to legal circles in Seoul, the Seoul Central District Court decided not to grant media outlets permission to film inside the courtroom during Yoon’s trial. The presiding judge didn’t give a specific reason, but it’s a stark contrast to how things were handled with former Presidents Lee Myung-bak and Park Geun-hye.

Back when Lee and Park faced their first formal trials, the courts allowed cameras to capture them in the defendant’s seat. This decision was made considering the high public interest, the gravity of the cases, and overall public benefit. It set a precedent, but not this time.

Now, under the Supreme Court rules, filming inside a courtroom can be allowed if the defendant agrees. But even without their consent, the judge can permit filming if it’s deemed significantly beneficial to the public. However, in Yoon’s case, neither condition seems to have been met.

On another note, the court will allow Yoon to use a private underground entrance when he attends the first hearing on the 14th, if he requests it. So, a low-profile entrance, no cameras in the court – it’s quite different from the past!

What do you think about this decision? Let me know in the comments!