Former South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol skipped his insurrection trial for the ninth consecutive session on Monday, intensifying frustration over repeated delays.

Yoon faces charges of leading an insurrection and abusing his power during his failed attempt to impose martial law in December. Since being placed in custody for the second time on July 10, he has refused to attend hearings at the Seoul Central District Court.

“The defendant has voluntarily not appeared today again,” the court bench announced, adding that the Seoul Detention Center had confirmed it was “impossible to bring him in by force.” Under South Korea’s Criminal Procedure Code, trials can proceed in absentia if the defendant refuses to appear without legitimate grounds.

Special Counsel Cho Eun-suk’s team, tasked with investigating the martial law case, urged the court to speed up proceedings by holding four hearings a week. Prosecutors argued that merging Yoon’s trial with those of senior officials—including former Defense Minister Kim Yong-hyun and former police chief Cho Ji-ho—would help conclude the case by December.

The court previously indicated it intends to finish proceedings this year, despite Yoon’s continued refusal to cooperate. Critics say his repeated absences undermine public trust in accountability for former leaders accused of grave constitutional violations.

Yoon’s high-profile trial has gripped South Korea, where political scandals often spark mass protests and widespread public debate. His absence underscores tensions between the judiciary’s efforts to enforce the rule of law and the challenges of prosecuting a former head of state.

The next sessions will test whether the court can maintain momentum toward a verdict in one of South Korea’s most politically sensitive trials in recent years.