[On the scene] Life sentence for 'ringleader of insurrection' Yoon sparks cries of "the trial is invalid" vs "he deserves the death penalty"

As former president Yoon Suk Yeol, who was indicted as the alleged ringleader of an insurrection, was sentenced to life imprisonment in the first trial, anger erupted among his supporters gathered in front of the court. In contrast, participants at a counter-rally welcomed the court’s recognition of insurrection but expressed disappointment that the death penalty was not imposed.
Around 3 p.m. on the 19th, more than 500 people gathered for a rally organized by the civic group Shin Jayu Yeondae in front of the Jeonggok Building near the Seoul Central District Court in Seocho District, Seoul, to watch the first-instance verdict for former president Yoon. Holding Taegeukgi and U.S. flags, as well as placards reading "Yoon Again" and "Dismiss the indictment," they waited nervously for the judge to read out the decision.
Six large flags bearing the slogan "We are Yoon Suk Yeol" were hung at the site, along with banners that read, for example, "God will resurrect President Yoon Suk Yeol."
When the court first recognized the Corruption Investigation Office for High-ranking Officials (CIO) as having jurisdiction to investigate insurrection, and then ruled that the December 3 events of the 2024 South Korean martial law crisis constituted a violent uprising aimed at subverting the constitutional order, rally participants shouted in protest, yelling, "The country is finished" and "This is invalid." Many people left the scene early.
After the court handed down a life sentence for former president Yoon, supporters who had been hoping for a dismissal of the charges rose to their feet in shock and hurled harsh criticism and profanity at the bench. Some participants were seen crying and screaming.
Mr. Kim (45), who came from Mapo District in Seoul, said, "Far from dismissing the indictment, the court denied the president’s exclusive authority to declare martial law and instead labeled it insurrection. That makes no sense," adding, "No one was hurt, and everything was over by dawn. It is the ruling party, which keeps talking about insurrection over something that ended overnight, that is the real insurrectionist force. It was nothing more than the president’s desperate cry in response to a government that had been paralyzed."
Mr. Choi (32), a resident of Jongno District in Seoul, likewise argued, "In the end, the court knelt before the power of the current administration," and continued, "The only reason they stopped short of the death penalty seems to be a pang of conscience. If the second-instance court also fails us, we must fight all the way to the Supreme Court to protect an innocent president."

At the same time, a counter-rally demanding the death penalty for former president Yoon was held near the Seoul Central District Prosecutors’ Office in Seocho District, organized by Chotbul Haengdong (Candlelight Action), drawing several hundred people. Participants held placards and flags with slogans such as "Severely punish insurrection ringleader Yoon Suk Yeol" and "Impeach Cho Hui-dae for destroying the rule of law," and watched the trial on a large screen installed on the stage.
When the court announced that it recognized the crime of insurrection, cheers and applause broke out among the crowd. However, many quickly criticized the court for imposing life imprisonment instead of the maximum penalty of death.
Office worker Mr. Park (28), who took a day off to attend the rally, said, "I am deeply disappointed by the court’s reasoning that it took into account his background as a former public official and his age," and added, "Former president Yoon, who declared illegal martial law solely to cling to his own power, has never once shown any sign of remorse. If the appellate court fully grasps the grave danger of this loyalist coup attempt, it will hand down the death penalty."
Another participant, Mr. Jung (47), also asked, "How can you go easy on someone just because it’s a first offense when the crime is insurrection?" He went on, "The only reason the martial law situation ended in a matter of hours was the passive response of some in the military and the people who rushed to the National Assembly. It was by no means a mere warning. At a time when the candlelight citizens have been nominated for the Nobel Peace Prize, it is extremely regrettable that a president who staged an insurrection did not receive the death penalty."
Meanwhile, the police deployed 16 riot units and more than 1,000 officers to prepare for any emergency. A "bus wall" had been set up around the court complex the previous day, and dozens of officers patrolled the area in teams.
That afternoon, Criminal Division 25 of the Seoul Central District Court, presided over by Judge Ji Gui-yeon, sentenced former president Yoon to life imprisonment, former Minister of National Defense Kim Yong-hyun to 30 years in prison, and former Commander of the Defense Intelligence Command Noh Sang-won to 18 years in prison.
Former Commissioner General of the Korean National Police Agency Cho Ji-ho, former Commissioner of the Seoul Metropolitan Police Agency Kim Bong-sik, and former Chief of the National Assembly Security Unit Mok Hyun-tae were sentenced to 12, 10, and 3 years in prison, respectively. Former military police chief of the Third ROK Army Kim Yong-goon and former National Office of Investigation planning and coordination officer Seung Young Yoon were acquitted.
psh@fnnews.com Park Sung-hyun Reporter