A Seoul court will rule Friday on whether former president Yoon Suk Yeol obstructed justice after his Dec. 3, 2024 martial law declaration, the first of several cases against him. Prosecutors say he ordered security to block investigators from his compound in January and seek a 10-year sentence; Yoon denies wrongdoing. In a separate case, prosecutors have demanded the death penalty for alleged insurrection, though executions have been informally halted in South Korea since 1997. The court will rule on the insurrection charges on February 19.
Yoon Faces First Court Verdict Over Martial Law Chaos; Prosecutors Seek 10-Year Term
Yoon briefly suspended civilian rule in South Korea for the first time in more than four decades on December 3, 2024, prompting massive protests and a showdown in parliament (Philip FONG)(Philip FONG/AFP/AFP)
A Seoul court will deliver a verdict on Friday in the first of several trials involving former South Korean president Yoon Suk Yeol, examining whether he obstructed justice during and after his Dec. 3, 2024 declaration of martial law.
The case focuses on allegations that Yoon ordered presidential security to block investigators from entering his residential compound in January when they sought to execute an arrest warrant. Authorities' first attempt was obstructed by buses parked at the compound entrance; investigators later gained access and questioned Yoon. Prosecutors are seeking a 10-year prison term, while Yoon denies any wrongdoing. The sentencing will be broadcast live.
Charges and Related Trials
Beyond the obstruction case, prosecutors have accused Yoon of excluding cabinet ministers from a martial law planning meeting and have brought separate, more severe charges. In one high-profile trial, prosecutors have described him as the 'ringleader of an insurrection' and asked for the death penalty for his role in imposing martial law. South Korea has observed an unofficial moratorium on executions since 1997, making it unlikely a death sentence would be carried out.
Yoon's Defense and Public Reaction
Yoon — a former chief prosecutor who was removed from office following the crisis — has remained defiant in court. He maintains his martial law declaration was a lawful use of presidential emergency powers to "protect the nation and uphold the constitutional order," and has accused the then-opposition of creating an "unconstitutional dictatorship" by controlling the legislature. He was seen smiling in court as prosecutors made their demands.
Upcoming Dates and Additional Allegations
The court is scheduled to rule on the insurrection charges on February 19. Yoon also faces a separate trial on allegations of aiding the enemy after prosecutors said he ordered drone flights over North Korea to justify the martial law declaration.
Key fact: The verdict on obstruction of justice will be announced at 2:00 pm local time (0500 GMT) on Friday and broadcast live.
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