South Korea’s former leader faces prison, details of case emerge
Yoon Suk Yeol (Photo: Getty Images)
In South Korea, the court is preparing to announce a verdict in one of the key cases against former President Yoon Suk Yeol, related to attempts to obstruct his detention and actions during the 2024 state of martial law crisis, according to Yonhap.
On Friday, the Seoul Central District Court will deliver its ruling on charges against the former South Korean president.
The case concerns allegations of obstructing investigators following Yoon’s attempt to impose martial law in 2024.
The hearing is scheduled to begin at 2:00 PM local time and will be broadcast live pending approval from television networks.
Prosecution’s position
The special prosecutor’s team is seeking a 10-year prison sentence.
The indictment states that the former president committed a serious crime, effectively using state institutions to conceal and justify his actions.
Yoon is accused of ordering the Presidential Security Service to block the execution of his arrest warrant, violating the rights of nine cabinet members who were not invited to the martial law meeting, and drafting — then later destroying — a revised proclamation after the decree was canceled.
Additional charges
The former president also faces allegations of issuing press releases with false information, deleting data from secure phones of military commanders, and falsifying official documents.
Taken together, the prosecution seeks 2 to 5 years in prison for each count.
Possible consequences
The court’s ruling in this case is expected to influence the outcome of more serious charges related to Yoon’s alleged leadership in a coup attempt. The hearing for that case is scheduled for February 19, and prosecutors had previously sought the death penalty for Yoon.
Historical context
Overall, the former president faces eight ongoing cases, including charges related to martial law, corruption, and the death of a marine in 2023.
This is only the third time in South Korea’s history that the trial of a former head of state is being broadcast live.
Separately, representatives from South Korea and Russia held private consultations in Moscow focused on North Korea’s nuclear program and current regional security issues. According to sources, a senior South Korean foreign ministry official responsible for the North Korean nuclear portfolio visited Russia and met with the Russian special representative on the topic.
South Korea’s National Security Advisor, Wi Sung-lak, suggested that Seoul may need to negotiate a separate bilateral agreement with the US to legally secure the option of developing nuclear-powered submarines for its own defense.
