The Seoul Central District Court has confirmed that the enforcement of a previously issued 15-day detention order against lawyer Kwon Woo-hyun, who represented former Minister of National Defense Kim Yong-hyun, is no longer possible as the enforcement deadline has passed. The detention was originally imposed on November 19 of last year due to Kwon's disruptive behavior in the courtroom where he continued to speak despite being ordered to leave by the judge. According to the court's regulations, any detention must occur within three months of the sentencing.

During the same legal proceedings, another lawyer, Lee Ha-sang, also received a detention order but was actually taken into custody on the 3rd of this month before being released on the 16th. Unlike Kwon, who has not appeared in court since November 3, Lee's detention was executed following a courtroom session that concluded a separate case against Kim. Lee's compliance with the court's directives stands in contrast to Kwon's, raising concerns about the attorney's accountability and the implications of judicial orders not being enforced timely.

Despite Kwon's inability to serve the 15-day detention, there remains an impending sentence of 5 days that is yet to be enforced although the specific timeline for this could also be compromised. The situation continues to unfold, as Kwon’s frequent absences raise questions about his status, with updates on his well-being being vague as noted by Kim Ji-mi, another attorney involved, who mentioned that Kwon's location and condition are uncertain due to challenges in communication. The case highlights broader issues of courtroom decorum, legal accountability, and the enforcement of judicial mandates, which could have lasting impacts on the legal profession in South Korea.