The proceedings surrounding former President Yoon Seok-yeol's trial have been marred by controversy and delays, largely attributed to the presiding judge, Ji Gwi-yeon of Seoul Central District Court. Following the declaration of a state of emergency on December 3, 2024, Yoon was sentenced to life imprisonment in the first trial, but the journey to that verdict was chaotic. Judge Ji broke the norm by cancelling Yoon's detention in March 2023, inciting public anger and skepticism about the motives behind this decision, especially as it coincided with allegations of personal misconduct against the judge. The court's inability to effectively counter the defendants' strategies to delay proceedings resulted in a drawn-out process, extending from indictment to verdict over a year.