Special Prosecutor Seeks 10-Year Prison Term for Yoon Suk Yeol on Charges of Obstructing Arrest... First Sentencing Request for Yoon

[Financial News] The Special Prosecutor Team for Insurrection and Treason, led by Cho Eun-seok, has requested a total prison sentence of 10 years for former President Yoon Suk Yeol, who is accused of obstructing the Corruption Investigation Office for High-ranking Officials (CIO) in their attempt to arrest him.
On the 26th, during the final hearing for Yoon Suk Yeol’s case on charges including obstruction of official duties and abuse of power, held before Criminal Agreement Division 35 of the Seoul Central District Court (presided over by Baek Dae-hyun, Chief Judge of the Criminal Division, Seoul Central District Court), the special prosecutor requested a total of 10 years in prison.
The prosecution sought five years in prison for obstructing arrest, three years for infringing on cabinet members’ deliberation and decision-making rights, spreading false information to foreign journalists, and destroying evidence related to secure phones, and two years for drafting a post hoc martial law proclamation.
Park Eok-su, deputy special prosecutor, stated, 'This case involves the defendant privatizing state institutions to conceal and justify his crimes—a grave offense. Despite this, he trivialized his actions, even claiming that arresting a president is absurd. He betrayed the public trust, made no effort to reflect on his crimes, and was preoccupied with hiding the illegality of his conduct.'
He continued, 'The Republic of Korea is a democratic republic, and all power comes from the people—including presidential authority. The defendant, who moved the presidential office from Cheong Wa Dae (the Blue House) to Yongsan under the pretext of reforming the imperial presidency, failed to follow any checks on presidential power. By acting in self-interest, he gravely undermined the rule of law and deeply wounded the citizens who entrusted him with the presidency.'
Park Eok-su further explained, 'Even during the investigation and trial, instead of expressing remorse or apologizing to the public, the defendant repeatedly insisted on the legitimacy of declaring martial law. It is necessary to hold him strictly accountable to restore constitutional order and the rule of law, and to ensure that abuses of power by the highest office never recur in Korean history. The constitutional principle that all citizens are equal before the law must be upheld.'
Yoon Suk Yeol is accused of ordering the Presidential Security Service (PSS) to block the execution of an arrest warrant by the CIO last January. Additional charges include infringing on cabinet members’ deliberative rights regarding the 'martial law cabinet meeting,' drafting a post hoc martial law proclamation, deleting records from secure phones, and issuing false public statements related to martial law.
As the court announced that proceedings would continue in the afternoon, it is expected that Yoon Suk Yeol will make a final statement in person.
The verdict for Yoon Suk Yeol is scheduled to be delivered on January 16 next year.
theknight@fnnews.com Jung Kyung-soo Reporter