Delayed sentencing recommendation for Yoon could come as early as 6 p.m. today

According to Financial News, the prosecution’s sentencing recommendation for former President Yoon Suk Yeol, who is charged as the ringleader of an insurrection, is expected to come as early as 6 p.m. today. The case, which combines trials involving multiple defendants, had its earlier date postponed once due to what were seen as stalling tactics by the defense. As the court has already made it clear there will be no second postponement, attention is focusing on whether the bench will use its authority to curb any further filibuster-style defense by Yoon’s lawyers.
The Seoul Central District Court’s Criminal Agreement Division 25, presided over by Judge Jee Kui-yeon, will hold a sentencing hearing starting at around 9:30 a.m. on charges that former President Yoon led an insurrection, and that former Defense Minister Kim Yong-hyun, former Commissioner General of the Korean National Police Agency Jo Jiho, and five other senior military and police officials engaged in key duties in the insurrection.
The session will begin with the examination of evidence and closing arguments for former President Yoon, followed by the Special Prosecutor's Office for Insurrection presenting its final opinion and sentencing recommendation, and then the final statements by Yoon and the seven other defendants.
Yoon’s defense team has indicated it plans to spend six to eight hours on documentary evidence review and closing arguments. As a result, the prosecution’s final opinion and sentencing recommendation are expected to come after 6 p.m. at the earliest.
At the hearing on the 9th, the evidence examination requested by former Defense Minister Kim Yong-hyun’s side went on for about eight hours, prompting criticism that it amounted to a deliberate attempt to run out the clock. At that time, Kim’s attorney repeatedly made remarks unrelated to the charges and the evidence, drawing public ire. The lawyer even took issue with how the prosecution addressed former President Yoon, employing what was effectively a time-wasting strategy unrelated to the evidentiary process. This led to accusations that the defense was staging a kind of “courtroom filibuster” — an attempt to obstruct proceedings through unlimited debate.
In fact, attorney Ha-Sang Lee, who represented former Defense Minister Kim Yong-hyun, appeared on the YouTube channel “The Advancing Lawyers” on the 10th and expressed satisfaction that his delay tactics had secured an additional hearing date. The same strategy is expected to be used again in today’s arguments.
However, because the court faced criticism at the previous sentencing hearing for not using its authority to curb unnecessary remarks and expedite the proceedings, it is expected to more carefully manage the length and scope of arguments in today’s session.
When setting the additional sentencing date on the 9th, Presiding Judge Jee Kui-yeon stressed, “We must finish at the next hearing no matter what. There will be nothing after that,” adding, “Whenever it ends, we will have no choice but to sit late into the night.” Following today’s sentencing hearing, the final first-instance verdict is expected to be handed down sometime in February, when regular judicial personnel reshuffles take place.

hwlee@fnnews.com Lee Hwanju Reporter