"Death Penalty Requested for Yoon" - Office of the President: "Judiciary Will Render Verdict in Line with Public Expectations"

On January 13, the Office of the President issued a statement regarding the special prosecutor's request for the death penalty-the maximum sentence under the law-against former President Yoon Suk-yeol in the rebellion case, saying, "We believe the judiciary will render a verdict in accordance with the law, principles, and the expectations of the public." The Office of the President made this announcement in a notice released on the evening of the same day, immediately after the sentencing request by Special Prosecutor Cho Eun-seok's team.

Yonhap News Agency

In connection with the December 3 Martial Law, the special prosecutor's team led by Cho Eun-seok requested the death penalty-the highest sentence under the law-for former President Yoon, who is accused of being the ringleader of the rebellion. For Kim Yonghyun, former Minister of National Defense, who was identified as the "second-in-command" of the martial law, the prosecution requested life imprisonment. Special Prosecutor Park Eoksoo explained the rationale for the sentencing requests by stating, "The martial law was a grave act of constitutional destruction committed by anti-state forces. Rather than showing remorse, the defendants have never once apologized to the public. There are no circumstances that warrant special consideration in favor of the defendants." He added, "Holding those responsible for this rebellion-which threatened the very existence of the Republic of Korea-strictly accountable under the law is the minimum measure necessary to safeguard the constitutional order and uphold trust and justice in the criminal justice process."

The special prosecutor's team also requested 30 years in prison for Noh Sangwon, former Director of the Military Intelligence Command, who is suspected of being part of the "martial law shadow chain of command"; 20 years in prison for Cho Jiho, former Commissioner General of the National Police Agency, who is accused of participating in the blockade of the National Assembly; and 15 years in prison for Kim Bongsik, former Commissioner of the Seoul Metropolitan Police Agency. In addition, Kim Yonggun, former Commander of the Military Police at the Third Army Command (Colonel), who allegedly conspired in advance with Noh to impose martial law, was requested to receive 15 years in prison, while Mok Hyuntae, former Chief of the National Assembly Security Division at the Seoul Metropolitan Police Agency, was requested to receive 12 years. Yoon Seungyoung, former Director of Investigation Planning and Coordination at the National Police Agency, was requested to receive 10 years in prison.

The verdict in the first trial is expected to be delivered by mid-February at the latest. Even in rebellion cases, if there are circumstances that can be considered in favor of the defendant, the judge may reduce the sentence. The death penalty may be commuted to life imprisonment or imprisonment for 20 to 50 years; life imprisonment or life detention may be reduced to imprisonment or detention for 10 to 50 years.