Yoon's First Verdict on 'Obstruction of Arrest' Set for 16th as Trial Concludes Immediately After Resumption

First Court Ruling Among Eight Criminal Trials
Special Prosecutor Requests 10-Year Prison Sentence
Yoon's Request for Additional Hearings Denied, Proceedings Concluded

At an additional hearing on the case involving obstruction of the execution of an arrest warrant for former President Yoon Sukyeol, the court announced that it would deliver its first-instance verdict as scheduled on the 16th. Although former President Yoon's legal team requested a postponement of the sentencing date, the court concluded the proceedings.

Former President Yoon Seokyeol is attending the first trial on charges of "obstruction of special official duties and abuse of authority to obstruct the exercise of rights" held at the Seoul Central District Court in Seocho-gu, Seoul on September 26, 2025. Photo by Joint Press Corps

The 35th Criminal Division of the Seoul Central District Court (Presiding Judge Baek Daehyun) resumed proceedings on January 6 for the case against former President Yoon, who faces charges including obstruction of special official duties and abuse of authority to obstruct the exercise of rights, and held an additional hearing. The court had previously closed arguments on September 26 but reopened the proceedings due to new circumstances requiring further hearings.

The court explained, "The special prosecutor’s team had previously expressed its intention to submit impeachment evidence related to witnesses whose statements the defendant denied, and actually submitted such evidence during the previous hearings. Since the evidence had not yet been examined, we issued an order to prepare clarification and scheduled an additional hearing."

The Special Prosecution Team for Insurrection (led by Special Prosecutor Cho Eunseok) stated that it had submitted the suspect interrogation records of former Presidential Security Service Chief Park Jongjun as impeachment evidence against the defendant.

Former President Yoon's legal team repeatedly requested the court to schedule additional hearings, given that the proceedings had been resumed. The defense stated, "Since it was difficult to reopen the proceedings, we are currently preparing an argument summary and are getting ready to submit hundreds of pieces of evidence, including additional witness interrogation records from the insurrection ringleader case. If we submit evidence this week, we ask the court to review it and, if further hearings are necessary to guarantee the defendant's right to defense, to reopen the trial."

Former President Yoon, who appeared in court in person, also requested additional hearings. He said, "Since the proceedings have been resumed anyway, if we submit additional evidence this week, rather than immediately concluding the case, please give us some time. After reviewing the submitted evidence and our statements, if further evidence examination is deemed necessary, I earnestly ask the court to allow for additional hearings."

The court responded, "We will review the evidence and decide whether to reopen the proceedings," but announced the conclusion of the arguments and confirmed that sentencing would proceed as scheduled at 2:00 p.m. on January 16. This will mark the first court ruling among the eight criminal trials that former President Yoon is currently facing.

Previously, at the sentencing hearing held on September 26, the special prosecutor’s team requested a total prison sentence of 10 years, stating, "The defendant’s crimes have severely undermined the rule of law in the Republic of Korea and caused great harm to the people who trusted him and elected him president."

Former President Yoon's legal team argued that the verdict on the insurrection ringleader case, which is the main charge, should be delivered first and requested a postponement of the sentencing date, but the court rejected the request, stating that the legality of the martial law declaration itself is not the central issue in this case.

The trial for the insurrection ringleader case, considered the "main" case for former President Yoon, is currently being heard by the 25th Criminal Division of the Seoul Central District Court (Presiding Judge Ji Guyon), with the sentencing hearing scheduled for January 9.