Former President Yoon Suk Yeol's legal team submitted an appeal on Monday against a five-year prison sentence from the Seoul Central District Court. The ruling, the first related to his short-lived martial law declaration in December 2024, includes charges of obstructing investigators' detention attempt. The team claims the decision is unacceptable and marred by procedural errors.
The Seoul Central District Court sentenced former President Yoon Suk Yeol to five years in prison last Friday on charges including obstruction of justice and others. This marks the first ruling tied to Yoon's brief imposition of martial law in December 2024. The primary allegation involves Yoon ordering the Presidential Security Service to prevent investigators from executing an arrest warrant at the presidential residence in January last year.
Right after the verdict, Yoon's lawyers announced an appeal, calling the decision "unacceptable" and unsupported by investigation facts. The appeal was filed with the court at 4 p.m. on Monday. The team highlighted procedural flaws, noting the court had initially set Friday as the final trial hearing but switched it to sentencing without proper notice. They also criticized the dismissal of evidence requested by Yoon's side without evaluating its necessity or relevance.
"Given the public interest and historic importance (of the case), the process of demonstration guided by law and conscience should have been more elaborate and thorough," the legal team stated in a press conference. They further suggested potential legal challenges against the trial divisions handling insurrection cases, including Yoon's. "There is a debate over the unconstitutionality of the insurrection divisions," one attorney said. "We plan to review additional legal measures and implement them accordingly."
The case carries significant implications for South Korean politics, with the appeal process now under scrutiny in higher courts.
