First Trial Verdict for Yoon Suk-yeol's Obstruction of Arrest Case to Be Broadcast Live on TV at 2 PM Today

First Court Ruling Among Eight Criminal Trials
A Benchmark for Facts and Legal Principles
Live Broadcast Approved in Consideration of Public Interest

The verdict in the first trial regarding former President Yoon Sukyeol's obstruction of arrest is scheduled to be delivered in the afternoon of January 16. This will be the court's first ruling among the eight criminal trials Yoon is currently facing. The sentencing will be broadcast live on television. There is significant public attention on this verdict, as it could serve as the first benchmark indicating which facts and legal principles the court will adopt in the upcoming series of trials related to insurrection.

On January 16, 2026, near the Seoul Central District Court in Seocho-gu, Seoul, supporters of former President Yoon Seok-yeol waved the Taegeukgi flag, urging his release on the day of the verdict for charges including obstruction of official duties and abuse of power. Photo by Kang Jinhyung

The 35th Criminal Division of the Seoul Central District Court (Presiding Judge Baek Daehyun) will hold the first trial sentencing for former President Yoon on charges including obstruction of official duties and abuse of power at 2 p.m. on this day.

Former President Yoon was additionally indicted by the special prosecutor team led by Cho Eonseok last July on charges of obstructing the execution of an arrest warrant by the Corruption Investigation Office for High-ranking Officials in relation to the 12·3 Martial Law. He is also accused of drafting the post-martial law proclamation and infringing upon the martial law deliberation and decision-making rights of nine cabinet members. Other charges include disseminating false information to foreign media and destroying evidence related to secure phones.

At the sentencing hearing held on December 26 of last year, the special prosecutor team requested a total prison sentence of 10 years for former President Yoon for these charges. The special prosecutor stated, "The defendant's actions have seriously undermined the legal order of the Republic of Korea and caused great harm to the citizens who trusted and elected him as president," adding, "Nevertheless, during the investigation and trial, the defendant repeatedly asserted the legitimacy of the martial law proclamation rather than expressing remorse or apology to the public."

In contrast, during his 58-minute final statement, former President Yoon dismissed the prosecution's indictment as "comical," repeatedly arguing the illegality of the investigation and the execution of the arrest warrant by the Corruption Investigation Office. He stated, "The cause of the national emergency was the National Assembly and the major opposition party, and it was the first exercise of emergency powers in 45 years," adding, "It was inevitable for me to urge the public not to be indifferent to politics and state affairs, but instead to pay attention and offer criticism." Yoon's legal team has consistently emphasized the legitimacy of the martial law and argued that punishing actions taken in this process is unjust, maintaining his innocence.

Former President Yoon Sukyeol is attending the trial on charges of obstruction of official duties held at the Seoul Central District Court in Seocho-dong, Seoul on the 26th.

As this is the first verdict among the eight trials surrounding former President Yoon, some predict it could influence the atmosphere of subsequent proceedings. Since some of the cases Yoon has been indicted for share overlapping facts, the initial verdict could serve as a reference point for the judgments in other cases. In particular, whether there were procedural flaws in the proclamation of martial law and the legality of the Corruption Investigation Office's investigation are recurring issues in the main insurrection leadership trial.

With the court granting the broadcaster's application, the sentencing will be broadcast live on TV. This decision is interpreted as being based on the level of public interest and the public good. The court proceedings will likely be filmed with the court's own equipment and transmitted to broadcasters in real time. This is the third time a trial involving a former president has been broadcast live. The court previously allowed live broadcasts of the sentencing hearings for former President Park Geun-hye's state affairs manipulation case, the National Intelligence Service's special activities fund case, and former President Lee Myung-bak's embezzlement and bribery case. Both former presidents did not attend their sentencing hearings.

Even after the first trial verdict in the obstruction of arrest case, the remaining seven trials involving former President Yoon will continue. On February 19, the first trial verdict for the insurrection leadership charges will be delivered. At the sentencing hearing held on January 13, the special prosecutor sought the death penalty for former President Yoon. In addition, trials will continue for cases indicted by the three special prosecutor teams (insurrection, Kim Gunhee, and Chae Sangbyeong), including the Pyongyang drone incident, the illegal polling case involving Myung Taegyun, and the alleged escape to Australia by former Defense Minister Lee Jongseop.