Former President Yoon Suk-yeol denied charges at his first trial over allegations that he publicly made false statements, including claiming he had never met Jeon Seong-bae, known by the Buddhist alias "Geonjin Beopsa," during his presidential campaign.
The 21st Criminal Division of the Seoul Central District Court, presided over by Judge Cho Sun-pyo, held the first hearing on Wednesday for Yoon, who was indicted on charges of violating the Public Official Election Act.
Yoon was indicted for allegedly making false public statements at a Kwanhun Club-hosted debate on December 14, 2021, during the 20th presidential election campaign, claiming he had never introduced or connected a lawyer to Yoon Woo-jin, the former head of the Yongsan Tax Office and the elder brother of former chief prosecutor Yoon Dae-jin. He also faces charges of making false remarks during an interview on January 17 of the following year, saying he had "been introduced to Jeon but never met him together with his wife."
Yoon's defense team acknowledged the statements were made but argued they did not constitute the publication of false facts contrary to objective truth. His attorney said, "The remarks regarding the former tax office head arose from the special counsel's misunderstanding of the meaning of 'introduction' and 'assistance,'" adding, "Yoon Dae-jin sending a lawyer could have been problematic, so the instruction was to 'use my name.'" Yoon himself also stated directly, "Those remarks were already addressed during my confirmation hearing for the Prosecutor General position. I clarified the facts at that time and answered in the same vein during the debate."
Regarding the statement that "he had never met Jeon," the defense countered that "the special counsel intentionally distorted the context of the interview." Yoon's attorney said, "Former President Yoon consistently perceived Jeon as a Buddhist monk at the time," adding, "His statement that he never met a shaman was truthful." The attorney further argued, "The charges in this case are an unreasonable, expansive interpretation of a difference in perception."
Yoon added, "I only knew Jeon as a Buddhist figure and spoke about him in that context. I explained the same thing during the special counsel's investigation, but it appears the prosecution cut out parts before and after my remarks to build the indictment."
The court set the next hearing for April 7 and decided to proceed with documentary evidence review. The court will also determine witness selection on that date. The court approved former tax office head Yoon and attorney Lee Nam-seok as witnesses but has not yet decided whether to call former first lady Kim Keon-hee and Jeon as witnesses.